Breast cancer develops in the breast tissue when breast cells mutate (change) and grow uncontrollably, resulting in a lump of tissue (tumour). Breast cancer, like other types of cancer, may enter and grow in the tissue surrounding your breast. There are no known causes of breast cancer. It can also spread, which is the process by which a tumour spreads to other areas of the body and encourages the growth of new cancers.1

What are the warning signs of breast cancer?

Breast cancer has no visible early symptoms. Even if the tumour is too small to be felt, you can detect the abnormality on a mammogram. If you can feel a tumour, the first indicator is usually an appearance of a new lump in the breast that was not previously present. However, all breast lumps are not cancerous.

Many symptoms are caused by each type of breast cancer. While many of these symptoms are similar, others are different. Breast cancer symptoms include - 

• Breast pain

• Swelling in one or all parts of the breast

• A lump or swelling under the arm

• A nipple discharge other than breast milk 

• Blood-like discharge from the nipple

• A breast lump or thickening which feels different from the surrounding tissue

• A change in the size, shape or appearance of the breast 

• A newly inverted nipple

• Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin around the nipple (areola) or breast skin

• Redness or pitting of the skin around your breast (like the skin of an orange) 2

What can be the causes of breast cancer in females?

The exact causes of breast cancer are not fully known. Therefore, it might not be possible to identify the primary cause of breast cancer that almost everybody ignores. Breast cancer, according to doctors, develops when some breast cells develop abnormally. These cells divide faster than healthy cells and continue to aggregate together to create a lump or mass. These breast cells have the potential to expand (metastasize) to your lymph nodes or other body parts.

Breast cancer is typically caused by cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma). It can also start in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissues within the breast.

According to research, environmental, lifestyle, and hormonal factors may enhance your chances of having breast cancer. Therefore, breast cancer has no known cause. It is unknown why some people with no risk factors get cancer and others with risk factors never do. Hence, one can get breast cancer through a combination of genetic makeup and environmental factors.3

Environmental causes of breast cancer:

Environmental factors and toxic substances are known to increase the risk of breast cancer, and one such factor is ionising radiation exposure. The risk of breast cancer can rise due to environmental chemicals with estrogen-like properties. These properties are present in several plastics, cosmetics and personal care items, pesticides, and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). These could potentially increase the risk of breast cancer.

Although these effects in people are more challenging to evaluate, research does not clearly link exposure to these substances to an increased risk of breast cancer. 4 5

Can breast cancer be cured?

Your doctor will decide on the best course of treatment for your breast cancer based on the type, size, stage, and grade, as well as whether or not the cancer cells are hormone sensitive. Along with your preferences, your doctor will take into account your overall health.

Most women with breast cancer undergo surgery and may require additional treatments such as - chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation. In some circumstances, chemotherapy may be given before surgery.

There are various treatments available for breast cancer, and you may feel overwhelmed as you make difficult treatment decisions. You should talk to other women who have made similar decisions and visit your doctor.6

Breast cancer stages and treatment:

Can breast cancer naturally go away? No, after diagnosing breast cancer, your doctor will try to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer. It can determine your prognosis and treatment options. 

Breast cancer treatment by stage:

• Stage 0 (DCIS) - Also known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), this type of breast cancer is noninvasive. It happens when precancerous or cancerous cells become limited to the milk ducts.

  
  

  Stage 0 breast cancer has the potential to become invasive and spread outside of the ducts. You can avoid this with early detection and treatment. A lumpectomy or mastectomy may be part of the first course of treatment, followed by radiation.

• Stage 1 - In this stage, cancer cells have already spread to the surrounding breast tissue. It is early-stage invasive breast cancer. It is advised to combine surgery with one or more additional treatments, such as radiation or hormone therapy.

• Stage 2 - Tumours in this stage can range in size from 2 to 5 cm and may or may not influence the adjacent lymph nodes. Mostly, you'll need a mix of chemotherapy, surgery, and treatments like radiation, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.

• Stage 3 - At this time, cancer has spread beyond the tumour (its point of origin). It might have migrated to nearby lymph nodes and tissue, but it didn't reach distant organs. Stage 3 treatment usually involves a combination of treatments, including - systemic therapy, surgery and radiation therapy.

• Stage 4 - Cancer has gone to your bones, liver, lungs or brain along with your breast. Systemic therapy is the main form of treatment for stage 4. However, radiation and surgery are options in certain cases. Systemic therapy might include - chemotherapy, hormonal therapy (for hormone receptor-positive cancers) and targeted therapy (for HER2-positive cancers).7

Triple-negative breast cancer treatment (TNBC): 

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, one of the first tests your doctor will perform is to check if the cancer cells are hormone-responsive because this will determine the course of your treatment. If your cells have hormone receptors, hormones can promote the growth of cancer cells. Not all breast cancer cells contain these receptors, and not all cancers overexpress the HER2 gene.

When your breast cancer is not sensitive to these hormones and does not have an excess of HER2, it is referred to as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Hormone therapy prevents hormones from promoting the growth of cancer. TNBC cells do not respond well to hormone therapy or medicines that inhibit HER2 receptors because they lack the hormones estrogen and progesterone. TNBC treatment frequently includes - chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. If TNBC is detected early, it is usually treated successfully. However, TNBC has lower overall survival rates than other types of breast cancer. 8

How to avoid breast cancer?

The causes of breast cancer are still not entirely known, making it challenging to say whether you can prevent it. Therefore, it's crucial to be aware of early indications and symptoms of breast cancer and to regularly examine your breast health. Treatments are available to lower your risk of getting breast cancer if you are at a higher risk.

Many studies have been conducted to understand the connection between diet and breast cancer. Although there are no firm conclusions, there are certain benefits for women who - 

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Exercise regularly

• Have a low intake of saturated fat

• Avoid alcohol consumption

The outlook for breast cancer patients can improve with regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle. After going through menopause, it's necessary to keep a healthy weight. It is because being overweight or obese increases estrogen production, which raises the risk of developing breast cancer. 9

Who is at high risk for breast cancer?

Research suggests that several factors may raise your chance of developing breast cancer. These consist of - 

• People above 55 or older have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

• Women have more chance of getting breast cancer than men.

• If you have a family history of breast cancer, you might develop the disease at some point in life. 

• Drinking alcohol or smoking can increase your risk of getting certain cancers.

• Obesity can increase your risk of breast cancer and its recurrence.

• Early menstruation or late menopause can increase the risk of breast cancer.

• People undergoing radiation therapy or hormone replacement therapy are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer.

• Dense breast tissue makes it difficult to read mammograms, which increases the risk of developing breast cancer. 10 11

At what age is breast cancer usually seen?

Breast cancer is usually detected in adults over 50, even though it can occur at any age. 12

What foods stop breast cancer growth?

Remember that there are many causes of breast cancer. While changing your food can help you feel better overall and reduce your risk of developing cancer, this is only one part of the puzzle. However, some data suggests that certain foods may lower your risk of contracting it..

• Green leafy vegetables

• Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli etc.

• Citrus fruits

• Berries

• Peaches, apples, pears, grapes

• Fatty fish

• Allium vegetables like garlic, onions etc.

• Fatty fish

• Fermented foods

• Beans

• Herbs and spices

• Whole grains

• Walnuts

What foods trigger breast cancer?

While some foods may lower your risk of breast cancer, others may raise it. To reduce the risk of breast cancer, you should stay away from particular foods and beverages.

• Caffeine

• Alcohol

• Fast food and fried food

• Processed meat like bacon and sausages 

• Added sugar

• Refined carbohydrates 13

References

1,10,12 - Breast cancer; From Cleveland Clinic (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3986-breast-cancer). Retrieved on 15.04.2023

2,11 - A Comprehensive Guide to Breast Cancer; From Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer). Retrieved on 15.04.2023

3,6 - Breast cancer; From Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-2035247). Retrieved on 15.04.2023

4 - Factors with Unclear Effects on Breast Cancer Risk; From Cancer Org

(https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/factors-with-unclear-effects-on-breast-cancer-risk.html). Retrieved on 15.04.2023

5 - Breast Cancer Risk Factors; From City of Hope

(https://www.cityofhope.org/research/beckman-research-institute/population-sciences/breast-cancer-and-the-environment-study/breast-cancer-risk-factors-categories). Retrieved on 15.04.2023

7 - Breast cancer treatment; From Healthline

(https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer-treatment-options-stage). Retrieved on 15.04.2023

8 - Triple-negative breast cancer; From Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/health/triple-negative-breast-cancer-outlook-survival-rates-stage). Retrieved on 15.04.2023

9 - Breast cancer in women; From NHS UK 

(https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer/). Retrieved on 15.04.2023

13 - What Foods Help Prevent Breast Cancer Risk?; From Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/breast-cancer-foods). Retrieved on 15.04.2023