Women’s Breast Health

Breast Health and its Importance 

Breast health starts with knowing what's normal for your breasts (breast awareness). To maintain breast health, you can  regularly give yourself breast exams. With time and persistence, you'll learn how your breasts differ in sensitivity and texture during different times of your menstrual cycle. For many women, breast health involves being concerned about breast lumps, pain or nipple discharge. It’s vital to know what's normal — and when to book an appointment with your doctor to address concerns with your breast health (1).

Breast Cancer in the UK

Breast cancer occurs when breast cells divide uncontrollably. It’s not solely one disease; there are several subtypes of breast cancer, each with differing slightly in their characteristics. The majority of breast cancers (80%) develop in the milk ducts and 10-15% develop in the breast lobules. If left untreated, breast cancer cells may spread and form secondary breast cancer tumours (made up of breast cells) in other body parts (2).

In the UK, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women with one woman diagnosed every 10 minutes. Around 55,000 women are annually diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK. A further 7,000 people are diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), an early form of breast cancer, in the UK yearly. One in seven women will develop breast cancer at some stage of their life (3).

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

There are no exact causes of breast cancer that have been determined. But there are multiple factors that may increase breast cancer risk including:

-Age - risk increases with age

-A previous breast cancer diagnosis

-Breast cancer cases in the family

-A previously benign non-cancerous breast lump

-Being overweight or obese

-Alcohol consumption (4).

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Of the many symptoms associated with breast cancer, often the first noticeable symptom is a lump or area of thickened breast tissue. However, most breast lumps are non-cancerous but getting them checked by a doctor is vital. Other symptoms that should prompt you to see your GP include:

-Change in size or shape of one or both breasts

-A lump in one of your armpits

-Rash on or around your nipple

-Dimpling on the skin of your breasts

-Nipple discharge which may have blood in it (4).

Breast Cancer & Nutrition

Nutrition is a major factor that may affect breast cancer development and survival rates. Some studies have found trans fatty acids and dietary cholesterol obtained from sources such as fried food and processed meat, increase breast cancer risk. Adding to this point, decreasing total fat consumption is advised as fat has the highest caloric content of all nutrients possibly leading to excess weight, which  is a risk factor for breast cancer particularly in postmenopausal women (5).

Recent research has found that there is no link between dairy in diets and risk of cancer or cancer growth due to hormones. In fact, dairy is suggested to have a protective role in breast cancer development when increasing its consumption along with green leafy vegetables, fortified foods, legumes, nuts, and seeds intake. Regarding soy products, there has been no found evidence on its link to breast cancer incidences; it is recommended to try and choose less processed and more natural soy products such as edamame and tofu for overall health. Additionally, sugars found in complex carbohydrates such as peas, beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables are high in fibre, vitamins and minerals and may aid in lowering cancer risk. It is recommended to decrease large amounts of sugar in the diet, especially ‘free sugars’ or ‘simple’ sugars, such as fizzy drinks as they may increase breast cancer mortality risk. Also, some vitamins and minerals could affect how well cancer drugs work; high dose antioxidants may aid cell damage prevention but may stop chemotherapy from working as efficiently. Always confide in your doctor before taking supplements (5,6).

Our Advice & Resources

Try to give yourself monthly breast exams by feeling for any changes and noticing differences in appearance. Consult your GP if you have any concerns with regards to your breast health, and especially if you develop any of the symptoms listed in this article. 

BreastCancerUK provides multiple links and resources for breast health and cancer concerns and support. 

Lujayn Al-AtawnehComment