Aging
and Breast Cancer
Aging and Breast Cancer
Causes and Risk Factors
No one knows why some women develop breast cancer and others do not. Although the disease may affect younger women, three-fourths of all breast cancer occurs in women age 50 or older.
Researchers often talk about breast cancer in two ways: in situ and invasive. In situ refers to cancer that has not spread beyond its site of origin. Invasive applies to cancer that has spread to the tissue around it.
This chart shows what the approximate chances are of a woman getting invasive breast cancer in her lifetime.
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Ages |
Chances |
|---|---|
Older age and the following risk factors increase a woman's chance of getting breast cancer. Risk factors are conditions or agents that increase a person's chances of getting a disease.
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Breast cancer among one or more of your close relatives, such as a sister, mother, or daughter, increases the risk.
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Having no children or having your first child in your mid-thirties or later increases the risk.
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Having your first menstrual period before age 12 increases the risk.
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Race can be a factor. White women are at greater risk than black women. However, black women diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to die of the disease.
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Five percent to 10 percent of all breast cancers are thought to be inherited.
When breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. But as the cancer grows, it can cause changes that women should watch for. You can help safeguard your health by learning the following warning signs of breast cancer.
|
|
|
Warning signs of breast cancer:
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A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area.
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A change in the size or shape of the breast.
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Nipple discharge or tenderness, or the nipple is pulled back or inverted into the breast.
Warning signs of breast cancer:
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Ridges or pitting of the breast. The skin looks like the skin of an orange.
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A change in the way the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple looks or feels. For example, the skin may be warm, swollen, red, or scaly.
You should see your doctor about any symptoms like these. Most often, they are not cancer, but it's important to check with the doctor so that any problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Some women believe that as they age, health problems are due to "growing older." Because of this myth, many illnesses go undiagnosed and untreated. Don't ignore your symptoms because you think they are not important or because you believe they are normal for your age. Talk to your doctor.
Quiz
1. 'In situ' breast cancer refers to
A. cancer that has spread throughout the
body.
B. cancer that has spread to local lymph
nodes.
C. cancer that appears in only one place
in the body.
C is the correct answer. In situ cancer remains at the site
where it first occurs and does not spread to surrounding tissue.
2. Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for breast cancer?
A. older age
B. riding bicycles
C. having a mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer
B is the correct answer. Exercise has NOT been shown to be a
risk factor for breast cancer, and, in fact, some studies indicate
that it could reduce risk.
3. Which of the following are possible symptoms of breast cancer?
A. a change in the size or shape of the
breast
B. nipple discharge or tenderness
C. ridges or pitting of the breast
D. all of the above
D is the correct answer. Each of these symptoms gives important
information to the doctor. But all symptoms together mean cancer
could be there. Other possible warning signs are a change in the way
the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple looks or feels. For
example, it may be warm, swollen, red, or scaly.
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