[Understanding Breast Cancer]
Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor among women today, why is the incidence of breast cancer so high? Research has found that there are many internal and external factors that cause breast cancer, but in the end, it all boils down to one thing: estrogen in the human body is at fault.
Without it, the ductal system of the breast will not develop and the interstitial vessels will not grow sufficiently, so women will have full breasts and “curves”. Once the estrogen secretion in the body is out of balance, resulting in excessive estrogen secretion and prolonged action, trouble will come —- when the epithelial cells of the breast ducts are stimulated by estrogen from normal development to abnormal hyperplasia, and there will be the possibility of cancer.
[Danger signs]
The following conditions in the breast should be considered as danger signs (common symptoms of breast cancer):
(1) Painless lump (or localized thickening) in one area of the breast with unclear border, hard texture and poor mobility;
(2) Bloody discharge from the nipple;
(3) sunken breast skin, or orange peel-like changes in the breast skin;
(4) nipple retraction, epidermal erosion or eczema-like changes at the nipple or areola;
(5) Significant enlargement, redness and swelling of the breast, with rapid progress of changes;
(6) Enlarged lymph nodes in the axilla;
High-risk groups
(1) Mother or sister who has more than one breast cancer;
(2) Women whose first pregnancy is older than 30 years old and those who have never given birth;
(3) Women who have eaten too much animal fat and are overweight after menopause;
(4) Women with certain chronic breast diseases (e.g. ductal epithelial atypia, papillomatosis, etc.);
(5) Women with menarche before the age of 12 or menopause after the age of 55;
(6) Women who have been using estrogen for a long time are more likely to develop breast cancer;
(7) Patients with breast cancer on one side have a 5-7 times higher chance of developing cancer in the opposite breast than normal people.
Six Tips]
To prevent “disease from entering the mouth”
Epidemiologists have found that food in areas with high incidence of breast cancer generally contains a lot of fat and animal protein. For example, American food contains three times more fat and animal protein than Japanese food, so the incidence of breast cancer among Americans is also three times higher than that of Japanese. Postmenopausal women who are obese are prone to breast cancer, and the high-fat “Western recipe” diet often causes obesity. With a standard weight of 70 kg, the incidence of breast cancer increases by 20% for every 10 kg increase in body weight, and the risk of breast cancer increases by 80% for every 10 kg increase in body weight for women around 60 years old. Why is Shanghai the “champion” in breast cancer incidence in China? To a large extent, it has to do with the improvement of living standard and the change of food structure.
Excess fat in the body can be converted into estrogen-like hormone, which stimulates the growth of breast tissue, and the result is needless to say. In addition, a large intake of fat can lead to a decrease in the body’s immune function, giving cancer a chance to take advantage of it. From the perspective of breast cancer prevention, it is still necessary for lesbians to maintain the traditional low-fat, high-fiber diet. Among all industries, athletes have the lowest incidence rate of breast cancer because they exercise a lot every day, consuming excess fat and keeping estrogen at a low level.
Don’t take health products indiscriminately
Nowadays, the standard of living has improved, and many women who love beauty are worried about their “premature death of youth” and often take some female health care products, especially after entering menopause, insomnia, nervousness and other symptoms, they are more panic, and friends and relatives often give them health care products as gifts for the purpose of concern. Many women’s health products on the market now contain a certain amount of estrogen, which is a “two-sided blade” that can prolong a woman’s “adolescence” but can also bring about ductal epithelial cell hyperplasia and even cancer.
Third, do not be too late to have children
Many urban women are reluctant to give birth or postpone giving birth after 30 years of age because of the intense pace of work and keeping fit, which is very unacceptable. This is because they may lose a chance to enhance their ability to fight against breast cancer. Why? A woman’s first full-term pregnancy can lead to a series of changes in the breast epithelium, making the epithelial cells more resistant to genetic mutations and producing large amounts of progesterone, which is useful for protecting breast health and is the “opposite” of estrogen. Therefore, although pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding are hard work, they not only bring women a lovely next generation, but also greatly enhance women’s ability to resist diseases, and the earlier this ability is acquired, the better it is for preventing breast cancer.
Fourth, we should start from children
Breast cancer is mainly an adult disease, but it has shown a trend of lower age. Nowadays, children are usually only children, and parents naturally regard them as the pearl of their eyes, so they desperately try to increase nutrition for their children. According to statistics, the age of menarche for girls in Shanghai has advanced from 16 to 13 years old. The longer the menstrual history of women, the longer the breast tissue is exposed to estrogen, and the greater the possibility of disease. Studies have shown that a year earlier age of menarche is associated with a 20% increase in the likelihood of breast cancer over the course of a woman’s life. Therefore, it is not alarming to say that the prevention of breast cancer should start from children.
V. Breast cancer is not a woman’s “patent”
Breast cancer is not a woman’s “patent”. Men can also get breast cancer? The general age of onset is after 50 years old. Men with underdeveloped testicles, cryptorchidism and testicular atrophy should pay special attention to this problem; men with impaired liver function have a reduced ability to inactivate estrogen, which can lead to excess estrogen in the body, triggering mastopathy and eventually breast cancer. In addition, there are some gay men who apply estrogen for the treatment of prostate enlargement or prostate cancer should also be mentioned.
The incidence of male breast cancer is very low, only about 1% of the incidence of female breast cancer, but due to the small size of the male breast and short lymphatic vessels, cancer cells are more likely to spread.
Develop a good habit of self-examination
The best time for self-examination for menstruating women is 9-11 days after menstruation, because the breast is softer and easier to find lesions. In general, it is convenient and feasible to perform breast self-examination in the following three situations.
(1) Checking while taking a bath;
(2) In front of a mirror;
(3) while lying down.