Healthy-Looking Woman may Develop Breast Cancer

Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors increase breast cancer risk even among women who look healthy, said oncologists after television actress Hina Khan announced her diagnosis with stage three breast cancer.

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Hina Khan Fights Stage 3 Breast Cancer

Known to be a fitness enthusiast, the 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai' actress in an Instagram post said: “I have been diagnosed with Stage Three Breast Cancer”. Noting that she is “doing well”, the actress stated that her “treatment has already begun, and I am ready to do everything necessary to emerge from this even stronger".

“Stage 3 breast cancer is when the breast cancer either involves the skin or the underlying structures which we call the chest wall or the tumor are very big more than 5 cm in size or there are lymph nodes which are even seen in the neck,” said Dr. Rohan Khandelwal, lead consultant and Head of the Breast Centre at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram.

The doctor recommended women with Stage 3 breast cancer a whole body scan or a PET scan to see whether the disease has not spread to any other part of the body.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting women worldwide. Data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) showed that breast cancer is the most common cancer in India. It accounts for 28.2 percent of all female cancers, with an estimated 216,108 cases by 2022. Globally, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 670,000 died in 2022, as per the World Health Organization (WHO) (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Breast cancer

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Breast Cancer Risk Factors

“Breast cancer can develop even in people who appear healthy because of the intricate interaction between hereditary and environmental variables. These variables may occasionally result in epigenetic modifications or mutations in genes that raise the risk of cancer,” Dr. Rohan said.

He explained that cells in healthy persons are equipped with internal systems that guard against abnormal growth and repair damage to DNA. These can, however, occasionally fail allowing harmed cells to multiply and perhaps develop into malignant ones.

“In addition, healthy people can also be impacted by some risk factors, such as radiation, hormone exposure, and specific genetic abnormalities. For example, despite leading a healthy lifestyle, someone with a genetic mutation like BRCA1/2 or a family history of breast cancer may still acquire breast cancer,” the doctor said.

Dr. Pritam Kataria, Consultant, Medical Oncology, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, said that as breast cancer cases are increasing, the age group is not well defined, and the risk can range from the young to middle-aged and elderly. The doctor noted that major non-modifiable risk factors include higher age and hereditary status, which means, you are predisposed to breast cancer if there is a family history with mutations present in your DNA, like the BRCA and BRCA2 mutations. Early menage and late menopause also pose a higher risk.

On the other hand, modifiable risk factors include obesity, having no children or advanced maternity, smoking, and alcohol, he added. The doctor also pointed out the role of increasing air pollution as a risk factor.

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Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis Saves Lives

The experts called for early diagnosis via mammograms, which should be done every year beginning at age 40 or earlier for high-risk patients. For those with a high risk, such as those with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, breast MRI is recommended. Women with thick breast tissue or abnormalities discovered on mammograms can both be investigated with ultrasound. Regular self-examinations and clinical breast exams by doctors help in the detection of unexpected changes.

A healthy lifestyle that includes eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, abstaining from alcohol, and quitting smoking can also help keep the risk of breast cancer at bay (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Breast Cancer Prevention Is Better Than Cure

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References:

1. Breast cancer - (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer)
2. Breast Cancer Prevention Is Better Than Cure - (https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP.22.00002)

Source-IANS