Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer in the world. In the United States, it is the most common type of cancer in women and is the second leading cause of cancer death. Breast cancer occurs when cells develop mutations and begin growing abnormally. There are several factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer, including lifestyle and genetic risk factors.
Definition
Cancer is the result of otherwise normal cells developing mutations which cause them to grow too fast and uncontrollably. In the case of breast cancer, these cells are located in the breast tissue. These cells are normally responsive to certain hormones, but when they become cancerous they no longer respond normally to growth and death signals.
Who Gets Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer predominantly strikes women. This is because their breast tissue is more responsive to hormones than that of men. As a result, women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than men. However, there is no difference in survival rates between the sexes.
Breast Cancer in the United States
Women in the United States have the highest risk of getting breast cancer as anywhere in the world. About 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer, and about 1 in 33 will die from it.
Risk Factors
While the likelihood of developing breast cancer varies around the world, certain factors predispose a person towards contracting it. Being female and age are risk factors, as is having children. In addition, having a high-fat diet, alcohol consumption and use of tobacco are other risk factors for developing breast cancer.
Genetic factors
While a family history of breast cancer does qualify as a risk factor, any female can get breast cancer, and 85 percent of all breast cancers are not related to genetics. However, the other 15 percent are hereditary. In particular, mutations to two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are linked to breast cancer.
Tags: breast cancer, risk factors, United States, breast cancer, breast cancer
