The people most at risk of developing breast cancer are women, especially when they are over 60, have had breast cancer or have cases in the family, as well as those who have undergone hormone replacement therapy at some point in their lives.
However, breast cancer can occur in anyone, the most important being self-examination of the breasts once a month, since, in the initial phase, this type of cancer does not cause specific symptoms, being able to delay diagnosis and treatment.
Thus, the main factors that increase the risk of breast cancer are
Women most likely to develop this type of cancer are those who have had breast problems or undergone radiation therapy in the area, such as in other cancers in this region or in the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, for example.
The risk is also higher in women with benign breast changes, such as atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ and high breast density evaluated by mammography.
People whose relatives have had breast or ovarian cancer, especially when a parent is a first-degree parent, such as a parent, sister/daughter or daughter, are also 2 to 3 times more at risk.is a genetic test to confirm whether there is a real risk of developing the disease.
In most cases, postmenopausal women undergo hormone replacement therapy with estrogen or progesterone, which can increase the risk of developing cancer, especially when used for more than 5 years.
In addition, when menopause occurs after age 55, the chances are also higher.
As with almost all cancers, a lack of regular physical activity increases the chances of developing breast cancer, especially due to increased body weight, which promotes the development of mutations in cells.In addition, lifetime consumption of alcoholic beverages also increases the risk of cancer.
When the first pregnancy occurs after age 30 or in the absence of pregnancy, the risk of developing breast cancer is also higher.
To reduce your risk of developing cancer, it’s important to avoid unhealthy foods like canned, ready-to-eat foods, as well as avoid other factors such as smoke exposure or a BMI greater than 25.
In addition, you should consume about 4 to 5 mg of vitamin D daily, such as egg or liver, and opt for phytochemical-rich foods such as carotenoids, antioxidant vitamins, phenolic compounds or fiber, for example.
If you think you have a high risk of developing breast cancer, see what tests you can do for: Tests that confirm breast cancer.
Watch the video below and find out how to perform a breast self-exam: