Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the breast. Breast Cancer starts when cells begin to grow out of control and at first cells turn into tumors. Breast Tumors can often be seen on an x-ray or felt as a lump. Breast cancer occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get breast cancer too. It is very important to understand that most breast lumps are nonthreatening and do not carry cancer malignant. Non-cancerous breast tumors are abnormal growths, but they do not spread outside of the breast. They are not life threatening, but some types of breast lumps can increase a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer. Any breast lump or change needs to be checked by a doctor or professional to determine if it is nonthreatening lumps or malignant (cancer) and if it might affect your future cancer risk. Sometimes a breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes under the arm or around the collar bone and cause a lump or swelling there, even before the original tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt.

Women who have a family history of breast cancer, who are obese or who have dense breasts have a higher risk of the disease. Symptoms include a lump, skin changes, nipple discharge and pain.

• Symptoms include lumps inside the breast. A painless, hard mass/lumps/tumors that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or round. They can even be painful.
• Swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no lump is felt).
• If breast skin changes, nipple discharge and pain.
• If nipple or breast skin becomes red, dry, flaking or thickened.
• If any liquid discharges from Nipple. (other than breast milk)
• Swollen lymph nodes in under arms or around the collar bone.

Cause of Breast Cancer:

There are 2 types of risk factor for breast cancer:

• Lifestyle-related Breast Cancer Risk Factors
• Breast Cancer Risk Factors You Cannot Change

Consumption of Alcohol:

Drinking alcohol has direct connection to an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Women who have 1 alcoholic drink per day have about a 7% t0 10% higher risk compared with non-drinkers.  Women who have 2 to 3 drinks a day have about a 20% higher risk than non-drinkers.

Overweight or obese:

Being overweight or obese after menopause increases breast cancer risk. Before menopause your ovaries make most of your estrogen, and fat tissue makes only a small part of the total amount. After menopause most of a woman’s estrogen comes from fat tissue. Having more fat tissue after menopause can raise estrogen levels and increase your chance of getting breast cancer. Also, women who are overweight tend to have higher blood insulin levels. Higher insulin levels have been linked to some cancers, including breast cancer.

Hormone therapy after menopause:

Hormone therapy with estrogen has been used for many years to help relieve symptoms of menopause and help prevent thinning of the bones. This treatment goes by many names, such as post-menopausal hormone therapy (PHT), hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). There are 2 main types of hormone therapy. For women who still have a uterus (womb), doctors generally prescribe estrogen and progesterone (known as combined hormone therapy, or just HT). Progesterone is needed because estrogen alone can increase the risk of cancer of the uterus.

Birth control:

Some birth control methods that use hormones injection in women body might increase breast cancer risk.

Not having children:

Women who have not took children or who had their first child after age 30 have a higher breast cancer risk. Having many pregnancies and becoming pregnant at an early age reduces breast cancer risk.

Not breastfeeding:

Breast feeding is very important for the newborn’s health as well as for the mother health too. Most studies have been shown that breastfeeding can slightly lower breast cancer risk, especially if it’s continued for a year or more.

Having a family history:

Women who have close blood relatives with breast cancer have a higher risk. Women with a father or brother who has had breast cancer also have a higher risk of breast cancer. Having a first relatives like mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer almost doubles a woman’s risk.

Starting periods early:

Women who have had more menstrual cycles because they started menstruating early (especially before age 12) have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. The increase in risk may be due to a longer lifetime exposure to the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Menopause after age 55:

Women who have had more menstrual cycles because they went through menopause after age of 55 have a higher risk of breast cancer. The increase in risk may be because they have a longer lifetime exposure to the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Eating foods that contain lots of fiber; reduces the risk of breast cancer. Fresh fruits reduce the risk of cancer. Berries – National fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, and black raspberries are particularly useful. Pomegranate contains aldeic acid, which is a high quality anti-oxidant. Vegetables are yellow, green and orange and the result is phytochemical carotenoids. Such vegetables and fruits include carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and amla/ Indian gooseberry. Eat more of them. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli,Mushrooms, Bitter Gourd, cauliflower, cabbage, etc. have a lot of anti-oxidants. In addition, these vegetables contain glucosinolate compounds. They help prevent cancer.

Regular consumption of Flaxseeds, Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds ,Basil leaf, Walnut beside regular meals can lower the risk of breast cancer. There are beneficial fats in olive oil, avocado, almonds which prevent breast cancer.

Whole grains, such as red rice, oats, barley or corn, have plenty of fiber and magnesium. They also prevent cancer.

Studies have found that breast cancer may have a correlation with vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is available from sunlight. Besides, egg yolk, herring fish, sardine fish, salmon, vitamin D fortified orange juice, taco yogurt contains this vitamin.

Soybean and soy products, such as tofu, soy nuts, soy milk reduce the risk of cancer. It’s best to drink 2 to 3 cups of green tea daily. In addition, there are omega-3s, lignans and fibers in the tissue.

These are especially useful. In addition, you can eat cold water fish at least three days a week.

Food we should avoid:

Sweet and sugary foods, high fat foods, alcohol, fast food and red meat should be avoided as much as possible.