Have you ever tried to consider what
would happen if you suddenly discovered a lump in your breast and it was
diagnosed as ‘cancerous’? You might be saying or thinking ‘God forbid;’
but did you know that it is said that one in every 25 Nigerian women is
at risk of developing breast cancer?
Has it ever occurred to you to assess
whether you are among the category of people at risk for breast cancer?
What are you doing to ensure you do not fall victim to this disease?
Breast cancer is a malignant growth of
cells beginning in the breast. These invasive cells begin in the mammary
gland, then gradually begin to spread, sending secondaries all over the
body, wreaking havoc on various organs and tissues. It is the most
common cancer in females, and the number of women affected by this
menace is gradually increasing every day.
Continue reading after the cut....
Cancer is a disease in which the body is
invaded by abnormal cells growing in an uncontrolled way. Generally
speaking, what triggers these cells to lose control is unknown, but
certain risk factors have been identified, and specifically associated
with certain types of cancers.
These include some genes within the body,
environmental toxins like exposure to asbestos, formaldehyde, hair
dyes, benzene, heavy metals like cadmium, nickel, vinyl chloride and
similar substance.
Certain foods have also been discovered
as predisposing factors to developing cancer, including alcohol,
artificial sweeteners, fluoridated water, acrylamide, smoked foods,
canned foods and others.
We also have some hormones like
diethylstilbestrol and estrogen found in oral contraceptive pills,
transdermal patches, vaginal creams and rings, and hormonal replacement
therapy for menopause, as well as infections by certain bacteria and
viruses as trigger factors.
The role of radiation from cell phones,
telephone mast and other devices cannot be ruled out, as well as
ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Some general risk factors also exist, including increasing age, family history, overweight and obesity, lack of exercise.
For breast cancer, however, major
contributing factors have been known to include prolonged exposure to
the unopposed action of estrogen by progesterone. Oestrogen is essential
for the normal functioning of a woman’s reproductive system and for
normal breast development; however, lifetime exposure to estrogen is
thought to increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer.
Oestrogen is a natural female hormone
produced by the ovaries in women and the testes in men, though it is
found in much higher concentrations in women’s bodies. It stimulates
puberty, regulates the menstrual cycle and breast development, plays a
crucial role in pregnancy, and is also necessary to maintain strong,
healthy bones.
However, research has linked prolonged
exposure to oestrogen as a predisposing factor for breast, endometrial
and cervical cancer. As far back as over 100 years ago, researchers
found that removing the ovaries of women with breast cancer improved
their chances of survival. Recent studies have shown that women who had
their ovaries removed early in life have a very low incidence of breast
cancer. Similarly, rats and mice whose ovaries have been removed develop
few — if any — breast tumours. Men who do not have ovaries and have low
blood levels of oestrogen have low breast cancer rates, compared to
women.
Various factors can affect the levels of oestrogen within a woman’s body. These include:
Diet: Diets that are very low in
fat and high in fibre may decrease the levels of oestrogen in the body.
Certain dietary factors may increase breast cancer risk directly by
increasing levels of oestrogen in the blood, and indirectly by causing
overweight and obesity.
The role of dietary phytoestrogens also
cannot be underemphasised. Phytoestrogens are plant oestrogens found in
foods like soybeans, tofu, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and
certain spices and herbs. A diet rich in phytoestrogens has been
proposed as a way to decrease breast cancer risk because the weaker
phtyoestrogens will prevent the stronger human oestrogens from binding
to the oestrogen receptor and causing cell division, which is one of the
ways cancers develop.
Obesity: This has been shown to
have a strong link to the development of breast cancer because there is
peripheral conversion of the fat cells to oestrogen, therefore making
obese and overweight women to be more exposed to oestrogen within the
body. A woman’s body fat is the major source of oestrogen after
menopause, hence women with less body fat are at lesser risk.
Exercise: Studies have shown that
women who exercise regularly have a lower risk of breast cancer. Some
evidence suggests that circulating levels of oestrogen are lower in
women who exercise regularly. Body fat is often reduced in women who
exercise and body oestrogen levels may also be reduced. Exercise may
extend the length of a woman’s menstrual cycles. Longer menstrual cycles
correspond with fewer cycles over a lifetime, and fewer menstrual
cycles can result in less lifetime exposure to oestrogen.
Reproductive factors: Women who
have not given birth to children or had their first child over the age
of 30 are said to be more at risk for breast cancer; while breastfeeding
is said to offer some degree of protection against breast cancer. Also,
women who had an early menarche, as well as women with late onset of
menopause, are thought to be more susceptible to this disease due to
prolonged exposure to oestrogen within the body.
To be continued.
-Oladapo Ashiru
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