the top 10 questions about breast cancer: what's important for every woman to know

Every October - the month of the fight against this disease - brings a surge of attention to the topic, but doctors remind us that taking care of breast health should not be a one-time event, but part of regular preventive care throughout the year.

As Medicalxpress reports with a link to Mayo Clinic Health System, experts have compiled ten of the most common questions patients ask their doctors.

Why worry about breast cancer if no one in the family has had the disease?

A major mistake is to think that the disease is only hereditary. Only about 20 per cent of breast cancer cases are linked to genetic factors. Women whose mother, sister or daughter has already been diagnosed are indeed at the highest risk, but the remaining 80% of those who get the disease are women with no family predisposition.

Can breast cancer be prevented?

It is impossible to completely eliminate the risk, but it can be significantly reduced. Doctors advise to stop smoking, limit alcohol consumption, maintain a healthy weight and lead an active lifestyle. The main risk factors are female gender, the presence of mammary glands and age.

How can you find out your risk?

The first is to collect a family history: find out if there have been cases of cancer in the family. The second is to follow your doctor's recommendations for preventive examinations and regular mammograms, especially after the age of 40.

Is it necessary to do a self examination?

Yes, especially if there is an increased risk. Although official recommendations on the frequency of examinations vary, monthly or quarterly self-examination helps to know your own body better and to notice changes in time. For women over the age of 40, an annual check-up with a specialist is also recommended.

What does it mean to have dense breasts and how does it affect the diagnosis?

About 30% of women have moderately dense breasts and 10% have extremely dense breasts. This can make it difficult to detect tumours on mammography, but you should not refuse the examination: the scans still help to detect most pathologies at an early stage.

Do contraceptives increase the risk of breast cancer?

For women of childbearing age, no. However, hormone therapy after the age of 60 may actually increase the likelihood of breast or endometrial cancer. Therefore, any medication should be taken under a doctor's supervision.

Do pregnancy and breastfeeding have an effect?

On the contrary - they reduce the risk. The longer a woman has been pregnant or breastfeeding, the less likely she is to develop breast cancer in the future.

Are toxins and radiation dangerous?

Yes. Working in an environment where you are exposed to toxic substances, as well as radiation for other cancers, increases your risk of developing cancer, including breast cancer.

Is it worth getting genetic testing?

Sometimes, yes. But the decision is made with your doctor or genetic counsellor. Tests are only ordered if there is a good reason, such as a family history of the disease.

Does race affect disease risk?

According to the CDC, African American, Native American, Alaskan and Pacific Islander women are more likely to experience breast cancer and have a higher mortality rate. Researchers attribute this not only to biological factors, but also to unequal access to health care.

Prevention, awareness and regular check-ups are the main tools in the fight against breast cancer. The earlier the disease is detected, the higher the chance of successful treatment.

In 2022, breast cancer is the cause of death for about 670,000 women worldwide. In one in four women the disease is diagnosed at stages III-IV, when the effectiveness of treatment is significantly reduced.

Sometimes breast cancer also occurs in men. For example, in the United States, 1 out of 100 cases of breast cancer occurs in men.

According to the National Cancer Registry, 12,683 cases of breast cancer were registered in Ukraine in 2023:
- 12,582 women,
- 101 men.
3,553 people (3,513 women and 40 men) died from this disease - without taking into account the data for Crimea and Sevastopol.