Breast cancer is a complex disease. Although you might immediately consider your family history to be the greatest danger, scientists think that knowing that would require looking at more than just your genes.
Breast cancer risk is undoubtedly increased by inherited abnormalities such as those in BRCA1 and BRCA2. One important statistic, though, is that women without a documented genetic mutation account for around 85% of all cases of breast cancer. Dr. Ashish Joshi, Director, Co-founder, and Medical Oncologist, M|O|C Cancer Care and Research Centre, told Times Now, "This demonstrates why it is necessary to consider other aspects, such lifestyle choices, environmental variables, and your own medical history, when thinking about your risk."
According to Dr. Joshi, a person's risk profile for cancer is shaped by a number of natural bodily elements as we age. These include the age at which a woman experiences menopause and the start of her menstrual cycle. A slightly increased risk is associated with a longer lifetime exposure to estrogen. "The risk picture includes more than just genetics. Although BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are significant, they only account for a tiny percentage of cases. Examining a woman's overall health, daily routines, and environmental exposures is part of the larger picture. These non-genetic factors frequently have a far greater effect, he continued.
SOURCE: TIMES NOW AND CANCER CARE AND RESEARCH CENTRE.
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