Breast cancer is the main malignant tumor that endangers women’s health and now ranks first among female malignant tumors, with about 1.2 million women developing breast cancer and 500,000 dying from it every year in the world.
What are the warning signs of breast cancer?
The following conditions in the breast should be considered as alarm signs.
(1) A limited thickening or painless lump in an area of the breast over 40 years old.
(2) Depression of the breast skin.
(3) Abnormal nipple discharge, especially if bloody.
(4) Nipple retraction, scaling or peri-nipple eczema-like changes that do not heal.
(5) Change in the shape of the breast, loss of symmetry on both sides.
How to conduct self-examination for early detection of breast cancer?
According to statistics, 80% of breast cancers are first detected by patients themselves and then confirmed by doctors. If breast cancer can be detected at an early stage, the chance of cure will be greatly increased. Knowing the correct method of breast self-examination can detect abnormalities in the breast at an early stage, especially if it can detect breast cancer of 1cm in size that may not have metastasized yet, thus buying valuable time for the treatment of breast cancer. Formal examination of the breast includes visual examination and palpation. It is important to choose a date before the examination, preferably 9-11 days after menstruation. Because the breast is less engorged and soft at this time, it is easier to feel the lump. During the examination, choose a brightly lit area, remove your blouse and bra, fully expose both breasts and face the mirror. The correct examination technique is to gently touch the breasts with joined fingers, not to grasp and pinch them, otherwise the normal breast tissue may be mistaken for a lump.
(1) Visual examination of the breasts.
①Breast shape: remove the top, face the mirror, cross your arms or lift them up over your head, and reverse the process several times to observe whether the breast shape is complete and symmetrical, and whether there are any abnormalities in the outline. Normal breasts have a complete curved contour, and any abnormal changes in this curved shape should be taken seriously.
② Skin of the breast: Observe whether the skin of the breast is smooth, whether the color is normal, whether the skin has dilated veins and edema, whether the skin has dotted depressions (or orange peel-like changes) and regional depressions (dimple sign).
③ Nipples: check whether the height of both nipples is on a horizontal line, whether the color of both nipples and areolas is the same, whether the skin of the nipples is peeling or erosion, and whether the nipples are elevated or retracted.
④ Chest wall: whether there is a large dark brown disease-like protrusion on the chest wall from the outer upper part of the nipple to the inner lower part of the nipple, it should be considered as a possible parametrial nipple or parametrial breast.
Is the occurrence of breast cancer closely related to menstrual condition?
To date, extensive epidemiological studies on breast cancer have been conducted in different populations, especially in Caucasian women who have a high incidence. The results consistently show that early menarche, late menopause and late age at first childbirth are the three most important risk factors for breast cancer.
That is, the occurrence of breast cancer is related to ovarian function as evidenced by.
(1) Age of menarche: The first menstruation marks the maturation of ovarian function. Sex hormones secreted by the ovaries continuously stimulate the breast epithelial cells. Some studies suggest that the incidence of premenopausal breast cancer is related to the age of menarche, and the earlier the age of menarche, the greater the chance of developing breast cancer in the future. The earlier the age of menarche, the greater the chance of developing breast cancer in the future. The relative risk of breast cancer increases by 2.2 times in those with menarche younger than 12 years old compared to those older than 17 years old. Postmenopausal breast cancer is not related to the age of menarche.
(2) Age at menopause: Late menopause means prolonged exposure of the breast to estrogen and an increased risk of breast cancer. According to some statistics, those who have menopause at the age of 55 or above have two times more chances of getting breast cancer than those who have menopause at the age of 45 or below. In short, the later the age of menopause, the more chance of breast cancer.
What is the relationship between the occurrence of breast cancer and marriage and childbirth?
Epidemiological studies show that the risk of breast cancer in unmarried women is twice as high as that in married women, and the risk of having a child after the age of 30 is also a negative factor. The first full-term pregnancy at an appropriate age has a protective effect. Miscarriages, in particular, increase the risk of breast cancer. It is generally accepted that women who have had one child are less likely to develop breast cancer than women who have not had any children. In addition, the age of the first child is also relevant. According to research, those who have their first child before the age of 20 have four times less chance of breast cancer than those who have their first child at the age of almost 30, and those who have their first child above the age of 30 have a higher risk of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer is higher in those who give birth for the first time over the age of 30. The risk factor for breast cancer is increased for late and unexplained first births. The relationship between breastfeeding and the development of breast cancer is controversial. Recent studies have concluded that breastfeeding has a protective effect on the development of breast cancer, mainly in premenopausal women. Women who breastfeed more often and for longer periods have a lower incidence of breast cancer.
V. Is breast cancer hereditary?
Whether breast cancer is hereditary or not is of great concern to patients and their families. Indeed, genetic factors play a role in the development of breast cancer. Studies have found that if a woman has a family history of breast cancer, if her mother or sister had breast cancer before menopause, her risk of developing breast cancer is 6 times higher than normal. If a woman’s mother or sister has had bilateral breast cancer, her risk of breast cancer is 8 times higher than normal, i.e. the average age of breast cancer in the second generation of breast cancer patients is about 10 years earlier than that of the general population, mostly before menopause. If a mother has breast cancer, but two of her sisters have breast cancer, her risk of developing the disease is three times higher than normal. However, it is important to emphasize that breast cancer is not directly inherited, but is a “cancer quality” that is inherited as a susceptibility to breast cancer (i.e., a predisposing factor for breast cancer), not breast cancer itself. This means that breast cancer is not an inevitable hereditary disease, and relatives of breast cancer patients do not necessarily have breast cancer, but are just a little more likely to develop breast cancer than the general population. The occurrence of breast cancer is also related to other factors, such as fertility, diet, endocrine, etc. Only the combination of multiple factors can make breast cancer occur. To clarify these, there are two aspects to guide people with family history of breast cancer. On the one hand, you should avoid unnecessary fear and mental burden and realize that breast cancer is not directly inherited; on the other hand, you should pay attention to the prevention of breast cancer by taking some preventive measures and regular breast self-examination. If breast lumps are found, you should consult a doctor as early as possible, which is conducive to early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment of breast cancer and increase the cure rate, which is very meaningful for people with family history of breast cancer.
What is the relationship between lifestyle habits and breast cancer?
In a controlled study of hospital cases, Rosenbeng et al. found that the incidence of breast cancer in women who drank alcohol was 40% to 90% higher than that in non-drinkers, and that the type and amount of alcohol consumed were also related to the incidence. In addition, some reports suggest that alcohol consumption can increase the risk of breast cancer by 145% to 200%. However, alcohol consumption may be related to socioeconomic status and may only have a confounding effect. So far, no suitable biological mechanism has been identified to explain the relationship between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. Also, it has not been possible to affirm the relationship between the application of hair dyes and breast cancer.
The proportion of factors such as high-fat diet is in a trend of increasing year by year. Epidemiologists have found in their research studies that foods in areas with a high incidence of breast cancer generally contain high levels 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 people. In Japan, the incidence of breast cancer is 8.5 times higher among women from wealthy families than among poor women. The survey also found that the incidence of breast cancer tends to increase when large numbers of people move from areas with low incidence to areas with high incidence, especially among Asian immigrants in the United States. This may be related to the adoption of “Western recipes” (in which the fat content is 40% of the total daily calories) and rising economic conditions. Animal studies have shown that high-fat foods promote the production and release of certain hormones, which also contribute to the development of breast cancer.
Fat in food may also be harmful in three ways.
(1) It may be a carrier of fat-soluble carcinogens in the environment.
(2) It provides a source of cancer enhancers.
(3) It suppresses the immune response.
Many scholars have found that obese postmenopausal women are susceptible to breast cancer, and that a high-fat “Western recipe” diet often causes obesity. The reason for this may be related to the estrogen in the body of postmenopausal women, mainly estrosterone, which may cause cancer, and because it is generated in fatty tissue, obese women will bear the brunt.
7. Will long-term use of contraceptive pills cause breast cancer?
Contraceptive drugs have the advantages of ease of use, low failure rate and quicker recovery of fertility, so they are one of the more commonly used contraceptive measures at present. Since the pill is mainly made of estrogen, progestin or a mixture of both, many people worry that long-term use of the pill will cause breast cancer. The relationship between oral contraceptives and breast cancer is still unclear. However, studies have concluded that the use of oral contraceptives by women in the middle of their reproductive years does not increase the risk of breast cancer, while the use of oral contraceptives in early reproductive years or during menopause increases the risk of breast cancer to varying degrees.
What is the relationship between ionizing radiation and breast cancer?
The breast is a tissue sensitive to the carcinogenic activity of ionizing radiation, and the risk of breast cancer increases to varying degrees when children and adolescents have received chest radiotherapy.
9. Proper understanding of mastocytosis
1. Mastoproliferative disease is not a tumor: Mastoproliferative disease is a common disease of the breast that is neither inflammatory nor tumor, and is a structural disorder caused by incomplete restoration of breast tissue after physiological hyperplasia occurs under estrogen stimulation. Therefore, some people call it “poor breast structure”.
2, the onset and endocrine disorders are closely related: although the cause of mastocytosis is not yet well understood. But one thing is certain, this disease and ovarian endocrine imbalance has a close relationship. As the ovarian function changes during the menstrual cycle, the estrogen and progesterone levels in the body also change periodically. Estrogen promotes the growth of breast ducts and periductal fibrous tissue, while progesterone promotes the development of breast lobules and alveolar tissue. With the changes in estrogen and progesterone levels during the menstrual cycle, the structure of breast tissue undergoes cyclical changes of physiological hyperplasia and rejuvenation.
Pain is the most common symptom: the most common manifestation of the disease is breast pain, which is mostly periodic premenstrual swelling or pinprick-like pain, and can involve the armpit, which can reduce or subside on its own after the onset of menstruation. There are also some patients whose pain does not change with the menstrual cycle.
4. Lumps are not a common manifestation: Most patients feel they have lumps. In fact, breast enlargement disease is often manifested as thickening of glandular tissue in the form of masses, cords, cotton wool or granules in many places in the breast. It looks like a lump, but it is not a mass. However, a few serious cases will form multiple cysts in the breast, then you can find a very clearly defined lump.
5, drug treatment as a supplement, psychological treatment is the main: the disease has no special treatment. It is characterized by a chronic process and recurrent attacks. But for a larger proportion of patients, if the symptoms are not serious, no drug treatment. Some of these patients may heal on their own. Therefore, patients should pay attention to psychological self-regulation and eliminate psychological barriers. Those with more severe symptoms may be treated with herbal medicine. In severe cases, triamcinolone acetonide or danazol can also be used. However, these drugs interfere with the hormone metabolism of the body and need to be taken under the guidance of a doctor. Surgical treatment is not effective for this disease. Only in the case of malignancy can not be ruled out as a means of confirming the diagnosis.
6, self-regulation in life is very important: pay attention to eating a low-fat, fiber-rich, vitamin-rich diet. As far as possible to maintain a regular lifestyle, appropriate physical exercise are conducive to recovery.
There is no basis for the claim that mastocytosis can be malignant: there is no definite conclusion in the medical community as to whether this disease can be malignant. However, at least so far, there is not enough evidence to show that mastocytosis has a clear relationship with breast cancer. It is generally believed that mastocytosis is only one of the multiple risk factors for breast cancer.
8. It is crucial to pay attention to regular review: mastocytosis usually does not have breast lumps as the main manifestation, and it usually does not turn into breast cancer. However, it is worth noting that the lumps in the early stage of breast cancer are small and not easy to find, and they may be mixed with breast hyperplasia, which is sometimes not easy to identify even for doctors. Therefore, patients should be reminded to go to the hospital for regular review to prevent breast cancer from being missed.
10. Receive regular professional breast screening
Women over 50 years old should have a mammogram once a year, women between 40 and 49 years old should have a mammogram once every two years, and women between 35 and 40 years old should have a mammogram as basic information for future comparison.
Breast Cancer Prevention Manual: “Blocking” Breast Cancer by Eating
What is the relationship between weight and breast cancer? The relationship is not small, just take a look at this set of data: if 70 kg is the standard weight, for every 10 kg increase, the incidence of breast cancer will increase by 20%, and for every 10 kg increase in weight of women around 60 years old, the risk of breast cancer will increase by 80%. This is still a scary number!
From the perspective of breast cancer prevention, it is still necessary for lesbians to maintain the traditional low-fat, high-fiber diet.
For lesbians who are “fat”, I advise them to eat less meat and high-fat food and to go to the hospital for regular check-ups. Many of them are very reluctant: “This is not allowed to eat, that is not allowed to eat, what is the point of living!” I told them, if you can not give up this “mouth”, there is a way, that is, more exercise, regular long-term exercise. In all walks of life, athletes have the lowest incidence rate of breast cancer, because of the large amount of exercise every day, the excess fat is consumed, there is no fat on the body, and the estrogen in the body is kept at a low level, so of course, there is no breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer is reduced by 60%.
Avoid drinking alcohol: Drinking alcohol is much more harmful for women than for men. Women who drink alcohol have a higher risk of breast cancer than those who seldom drink alcohol, and those who drink one or more glasses of alcohol daily have a 45% higher risk of breast cancer than those who seldom drink alcohol. It is now believed that alcohol stimulates the secretion of prolactin in the anterior pituitary gland, which in turn is associated with the development of breast cancer. Therefore, women, especially those around menopause, should abstain from alcohol or drink less alcohol.
Drink less coffee: coffee, cocoa, chocolate, these foods contain a lot of caffeine, xanthine can promote breast enlargement, which is related to the occurrence of breast cancer. If women, especially premenopausal women, consume too much of these foods, the risk of breast cancer will greatly increase with the large intake of caffeine. Therefore, women, especially those above middle age, should drink less coffee and eat less chocolate.
Eat more cabbage and soy products: Cabbage contains a compound that accounts for about 1% of the weight of cabbage and can help break down estrogen. Soy products, on the other hand, contain isoflavones, which can effectively inhibit the development of breast cancer. In addition, fruits and vegetables such as corn, edible mushrooms, seaweed, garlic, tomatoes, oranges and berry fruits are also useful.
Eat more fish: According to reports, women in countries such as the United States, Switzerland, Canada and New Zealand, which eat less fish food, have a higher incidence of breast cancer, while women in Japan, which consumes more fish food, have a lower incidence of breast cancer. Experts say that fish contains a fatty acid that has the effect of inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells, so eating more fish regularly and appropriately is very beneficial in preventing breast cancer.
Don’t take health products indiscriminately
Nowadays, many women who love beauty are worried about their “premature death of youth” and often take some female health care products, especially after menopause, when symptoms such as insomnia and nervousness appear, they are even more panicked, and friends and relatives often give them health care products as gifts out of concern. I don’t know, this is not good enough to “spend money on crime”, “good intentions to do bad things”. I say this is based on the fact that many women’s health products on the market now, including many familiar well-known brands, contain a certain amount of estrogen, which is a “double-sided blade” that can indeed prolong a woman’s “adolescence”, but also brings about breast It can indeed prolong women’s “puberty”, but it also brings about hyperplasia of ductal epithelial cells and even cancer. Therefore, we should not believe in advertisements, and choose health care products according to the individual, do not eat as much as possible, if you want to eat, you should also find out the ingredients, if you are not sure, ask your doctor and take it under his guidance. If you want to take it for granted, you will regret it.
Don’t be too late to have children
Many urban women are reluctant to have children or postpone them until after 30 years of age because of the tight pace of work and keeping fit, which is very unacceptable. This is because they are likely to lose an opportunity 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 a large amount of progesterone, which is useful for protecting breast health and is the “opposite” of estrogen, which makes breast tissue swell and progesterone comes out to “reduce the swelling”. Therefore, although pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding are hard work, what they bring to women is not only a lovely next generation, but also greatly enhance women’s ability to resist diseases, and the earlier this ability is acquired, the more beneficial it is to prevent the occurrence of breast cancer.
To start with children
Nowadays, children are usually only children, so parents naturally regard them as the jewels of their hearts and try their best to give them more nutrition, not counting high-fat and high-calorie diets, but also blindly buying children’s food from the market to supplement their bodies. According to statistics, the age of menarche for girls in Shanghai has advanced from 16 to 13 years old. The onset of menarche means that children start to develop sexually and estrogen starts to act on the breast tissue. The longer a woman’s menstrual history means that her breast tissue is exposed to the effects of estrogen for a longer period of time, the more likely she is to develop the disease. Studies have already shown that a woman’s age of menarche one year earlier is 20% more likely to develop breast cancer in her lifetime. So, I am not being alarmist when I say that breast cancer prevention starts with the baby.