Heredity: A strong family history of breast cancer makes you more likely to develop breast cancer.
Hormones: The incidence of breast cancer has dropped since women stopped taking hormone replacement therapy on a routine basis.
New studies show that women who take HRT - hormone replacement therapy- for menopausal symptoms are more likely to develop recurrent breast cancer also, even if they take hormone reducing medications for treatment of the initial cancer.
(See Arimidex etc.)
Diet: Women in countries where the diet is lower in saturated fat and higher in fibre have less breast cancer. However this may be related to several dietary factors, not just fat intake. Women who have taken soya products in their diet since childhood as in many Asian countries have less breast cancer. See below - soya. Vitamins: see below (Folic Acid and Vit B6, Vit D)
Body Weight: Fat cells produce oestrogen in small amounts. Overweight women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer.
Alcohol: Drinking 2-5 or more drinks increases the incidence of breast cancer in North America. Countries such as France and Italy where alcohol is commonly consumed at meals show a different pattern of risk. These countries are more likely to have the healthy diet mentioned above. Studies have shown that women whose diet is higher in
Folic Acid and
Vitamin B6 do not show the increase in alcohol related breast cancer. Folic acid is metabolized in the liver, so alcohol interferes with folic acid levels. Folic acid and B6 help stop the damage to DNA which is linked to the develpment of cancer.
A US study showed a decrease of 30% in women who took 1000 IU Vit D a day.
Vit D link
Number of Menstrual cycles: Women with fewer menstrual cycles over their life have less risk. Women in Asia have longer cycles and therefore fewer cycles in their life. This is most marked in those whose diet is high in
SOYA. Soya contains
isoflavones which act like oestrogens, competing with the woman's own hormones, making her cycle longer.
Breast feeding: breast feeding for 1 1/2 - 2 years after childbirth is protective.
Having children later: women who have their first child after the age of 30 are less likely to develp breast cancer.
Iodine in the diet is associated with breast cancer (and fibrocystic disease of breast) incidence but adding iodine has not been proven as a treatment. Japanese women who eat seaweed regularly have a lower incidence.
