Changing Your Lifestyle Can Reduce Your Risks - Breast Cancer and Women

By Veronica Carrillo

Epidemiology Even though numerous epidemiological risk factors have been fully documented, it is still evident that the formation of many specific breast cancers has not been determined. Accordingly, epidemiological research derives the manner in which it manifests itself within a particular population, but it is unable to identify the characteristics relevant to an individual. In terms of specifics, the dominant risk factors are known to be the following: Sex, Age, Childbearing, Hormones, High Fat Diet, Alcohol Consumption, Obesity, Smoking, Radiation, and Shiftwork.

Obesity after menopause increases the risk: With the growing number of protective measures being taken to cut down on the risks of breast cancer before menopause starts, studies show that obesity clearly increases the chance of cancer after the full phase of menopause is completed. Some doctors have even stated that finding the tumors while preforming an exam or a mammogram are harder to sense because of the tumors feeling or looking like fatty tissue rather than the tumor itself because of the obesity.

While it is a correlation between obesity and cancer, estimates show that being overweight counts for about one in seven men and astoundingly one in five women contributing to some form of cancer related deaths in the US alone.

Putting this death rate into perspective, it represents only 7% of all deaths due to cancer and a mere 1% of deaths attributable to all causes. However, it must be noted that the number of cases of breast cancer identified worldwide has shown a marked increase since the 1970's. A number of reasons for this have been put forward, but the most likely candidate is the change in lifestyle experienced in Western societies.

Some of these cancer symptoms are definitely not painful in the initial stages. Nevertheless, there are some cells, which are growing in an unusual manner and are showing up in symptoms form. This sort of growth, whether benign or malign, needs to be checked up by your physician as soon as possible.

In this respect, a US study in 2005 by the SWHR identified the widespread belief that breast cancer was by far the most feared disease amongst women notwithstanding the fact that the rate of mortality in women from heart disease is so much greater. It is noteworthy that evidence from doctors has suggested that many women greatly exaggerate their vulnerability to contracting this particular cancer. - 31372

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