Breast cancer rates have been at an all-time high. Discussions were recently held with medical students to gather insights on their awareness of breast cancer within their medical education.
Breast cancer mortality has remained relatively stable from the 1930s to the 1970s, with surgery being the primary mode of treatment. Improvements in survival began in the 1990s when countries established early detection programs linked to comprehensive treatment programs, including effective medical therapies. Female gender is the strongest breast cancer risk factor, and approximately 0.5-2 per cent of breast cancers occur in men. The treatment of breast cancer in men follows the same principles of management as for women.
Simran Chatterjee, 5th Semester, MBBS, Sanjiban Institute of Health Sciences, highlighted that there is no scientific backing for the assertion that wearing underwire bras or using antiperspirants causes breast cancer. Breast cancer is influenced by a range of factors such as genetics, hormonal aspects, age, and lifestyle choices. Another misconception is that trauma or injury to the breast can lead to breast cancer, but there is no evidence supporting this claim.
Tanushree Biswas, 10th Semester, MBBS, Murshidabad Medical College, asserted that age typically isn’t a decisive factor; although BRCA is more commonly associated with older women, younger women can still develop breast cancer. Understanding your body is crucial, and self-examination is the primary step in identifying and ruling out abnormalities. Checking for asymmetry in the breasts and monitoring changes in the nipple-areola complex are essential practices. Technology facilitates the detection of BRCA, with ultrasound being effective for younger individuals and mammography for older ones.
Approximately half of breast cancers develop in women who have no identifiable breast cancer risk factor other than gender (female) and age (over 40 years). Uncontrollable high-risk factors include a family history, early onset of menstruation, late onset of menopause, hormone replacement therapy after menopause, and managing obesity, embracing a healthy lifestyle, and restricting alcohol intake.
People often hesitate to discuss issues related to breasts, leading them to easily overlook the disease. There is a common misconception that breast cancer is a sexually transmitted ailment and can be spread through sexual intercourse. Women affected by the condition often delay seeking help until it reaches a more advanced stage. It is crucial to provide counseling not only to the patient but also to their family and community.
Certain inherited high penetrance gene mutations greatly increase breast cancer risk, with the most dominant being mutations in the genes BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB-2. Women found to have mutations in these major genes may consider risk reduction strategies such as surgical removal of both breasts.
Contrary to the misconception that breast cancer equates to a death sentence with no chance of survival, it is crucial to convey accurate information about the progress in breast cancer treatment and the growing rates of survival. Sharing success stories and facilitating connections with support groups or survivors can help debunk this myth and offer hope.
Conclusion
Breast cancer rates have reached an all-time high, primarily among people under 50 years old. The disease is influenced by genetics, hormonal aspects, age, and lifestyle choices, with female gender being the strongest risk factor. About 0.5-2 per cent of breast cancers occur in men, and treatment follows the same principles as for women. Age isn’t a decisive factor, and younger women can still develop breast cancer. Self-examination is crucial for identifying abnormalities, and technology facilitates detection, with ultrasound being effective for younger individuals and mammography for older ones. Approximately half of breast cancers develop in women with no identifiable risk factor other than gender and age over 40 years. Uncontrollable high-risk factors include a family history, early onset of menstruation, late onset of menopause, hormone replacement therapy after menopause, managing obesity, embracing a healthy lifestyle, and restricting alcohol intake.
Certain inherited high penetrance gene mutations increase breast cancer risk, with the most dominant being mutations in the genes BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB-2. Women with these mutations may consider risk reduction strategies such as surgical removal of both breasts. It’s crucial to convey accurate information about breast cancer treatment progress and growing survival rates, sharing success stories and facilitating connections with support groups or survivors.
