Breast cancer that kills as many as 14,935 people a year. The number of people suffering from breast cancer is increasing year by year. It is said that women’s lifestyles play a major role in the increase in breast cancer. We will mainly explain “what kind of people are prone to breast cancer” and “is there a habit of being prone to breast cancer?”
Factors that are prone to breast cancer: Age, Heredity, Estrogen, Obesity
Breast cancer reportedly killed as many as 14,935 people in a year in 2019. The number of breast cancer patients is increasing year by year, but why is the number of breast cancer patients increasing in the first place? It is believed to have a lot to do with the lifestyle of women.
First, let’s take a look at the predominant age of breast cancer, genetic factors, whether or not you have had a baby, and the tendency of your body shape.
■ Age
The incidence of breast cancer in Japanese women rises from their 30s and peaks in their late 40s and early 50s. It is necessary to keep it in the corner of your head even in your 30s, but be careful especially if you are over 40 years old.
■ Genetic predisposition
This includes those who have a family member who has had breast cancer and those who have had breast cancer surgery on one breast. Also, although it is a little different from the so-called genetic predisposition, be careful if you are in an environment that is prone to gene mutation in some way, such as having a lot of radiation on the breast or having a benign breast disease in the past. please.
By the way, it is said that mutations in genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2 are involved in the development of breast cancer. Earlier, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie was talked about by removing her breasts when she learned of her own BRCA1 genetic abnormality.
■ Estrogen
It is said that a large amount of estrogen is involved in the development of breast cancer. It sounds difficult, but I think you should roughly think of “the period of exposure to estrogen” = “the period of menstruation“.
Then, those who are over 30 years old, those who have never given birth (= there is no menstruation while pregnant), those who have early menarche, those who have late menopause, and those who have long hormone replacement therapy Those who have been using oral contraceptives for a long period of time and those who have used oral contraceptives for a long period of time need to be a little careful.
■ Obesity
It may be surprising, but postmenopausal obese people also need to be careful. This is because estrogen is produced in adipose tissue after menopause. It is said that the more fat you are, the more estrogen you have, and the more likely you are to get breast cancer. However, premenopausal obesity is said to reduce the risk of breast cancer. A woman’s body is an example of significant changes between premenopausal and postmenopausal.
Considering this, the risk factors for breast cancer are increasing recently, regardless of whether women are advancing into society, the birthrate is declining, or the age of early menarche. No wonder the incidence of breast cancer is increasing year by year. In addition, it is known that people who are heavy at birth and tall are also required to be careful.
Next, let’s look at lifestyle-related habits.
Breast cancer and lifestyle: Exercise / smoking / alcohol / dietary habits
■ Experiences and habits that are thought to be less likely to cause breast cancer
- Breastfeeding: Long-term breastfeeding is effective for prevention
- Exercise: Postmenopausal exercise is thought to have a preventive effect on breast cancer
- Diet: Vegetables, fruits, dietary fiber, green tea, isoflavones, etc. are attracting attention as preventive factors, but the grounds are still insufficient at this time.
■ Experiences and habits that are thought to be prone to breast cancer
- Smoking: likely to increase risk
- Alcohol: almost certainly raises the risk
- Diet: Too much fat after menopause can increase risk
- Night shift: may increase risk
It may seem a little strange to have night shifts, but when exposed to light in the middle of the night, the secretion of melatonin, a hormone involved in the regulation of the body’s time rhythm, is suppressed. There is a hypothesis that this increases the secretion of estrogen from the ovaries and increases the risk of breast cancer.
Read also: What is empathy fatigue? What to do when you are mentally distressed by miserable news or stories
Why you can’t say “breast cancer can be prevented”
By the way, you may be wondering if you can say “likely” or “almost certain”, but that’s exactly what you can say.
If you say “medically effective,” you need to review a number of papers that have investigated the effects in an appropriate way and combine the results. The result of one paper is not enough.
Furthermore, the results of the United States and Europe, for example, may not be applicable in Asia, including Japan of different races. When talking to people who are not medical professionals, I sometimes feel that it is medically effective and has evidence as science, rather than the “evidence” and “data” that the general public thinks. I think it is much more rigorous and requires a great deal of effort (verification work) and time for many people.
So, as an aside, as a current method of information overload, if you are saying something based on one paper, it is recommended that you listen to it for reference only.
At the moment, it seems that the most important preventive measures are to undergo a medical examination for people over a certain age, to refrain from smoking and alcohol, and to control their weight with appropriate exercise habits after menopause.
Note: * The provision of information by doctors, medical professionals, etc. on this site is not a diagnostic or therapeutic act. If you need diagnosis or treatment, we recommend that you visit an appropriate medical institution. The content of the article is based on the individual opinion of the author and does not guarantee its effectiveness for all. The Company, each guide, and other information providers contracted with the Company shall not be liable for any damages incurred based on the information provided on this site.
