According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer impacting American women. While breast cancer can impact people of any age, the risk of developing this health condition increases with age. The presence of certain factors may make some women more likely to develop breast cancer than others, but this medical condition is capable of impacting just about anyone. In this article, we discuss breast cancer risk factors, treatment methods, and current statistics.
How Many Cases of Breast Cancer Have Been Diagnosed from 1999-2019?
According to Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC, there are “about 264,000 cases of female breast cancer diagnosed annually” in the U.S. The graph below displays new reported cases of breast cancer in the U.S. over a 21-year period from 1999 to 2019. For the most part, the number of cases increased over the tracked period, with a high of 264,121 diagnoses in 2019. New cases declined briefly from 2003 through 2004 and in 2010 before increasing again.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Approximately 42,000 women pass away from breast cancer over the course of a year. Some women are at higher risk of developing breast cancer due to the presence of certain risk factors, many of which unfortunately cannot be mitigated or changed. Anyone with a higher chance of developing breast cancer should speak with their doctor about screening methods and ways to reduce their risk.
Risk Factors That Cannot be Changed
Some breast cancer risk factors, such as those dealing with genetics or aging, cannot be changed. If you have one or more of the following risk factors, you should discuss them with your doctor:
- Aging: Most cases of breast cancer are diagnosed after a person reaches the age of 50.
- Genetic mutations: Mutations to specific genes may increase the chances of breast cancer development.
- Previous radiation therapy treatments: Women who previously had radiation therapy before age 30 may have a heightened risk of breast cancer.
- Personal or family history of breast cancer: Women who previously had breast cancer or have a relative that had breast cancer may be at more risk.
- Reproductive history: Women whose menstrual periods began before age 12 or who started menopause after age 55 have longer hormone exposes that increase the chances of cancer developing.
- Having dense breasts: It can be more challenging to see tumors on a mammogram if a woman has dense breasts, and her risk of developing cancer may be higher.
- Previous exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES): Between 1940 and 1971, DES was a drug used to prevent miscarriages in pregnant women. The drug was later linked to a particularly rare cancer called clear cell adenocarcinoma.
Risk Factors That Can Be Changed
While many breast cancer risk factors are unchangeable due to genetic or environmental factors, others can be mitigated through certain lifestyle choices. It may be possible to reduce the risk of factors such as:
- A lack of physical activity: Being physically active can reduce your chances of developing breast cancer.
- Being overweight or obese after menopause: Aging women that are obese or overweight have a higher chance of developing breast cancer.
- Reproductive history: Not breastfeeding, having a first pregnancy after the age of 30, or never having a full-term pregnancy can increase the chances of cancer development.
- Hormone use: Some oral contraceptives and forms of hormone replacement therapy increase the chances of breast cancer occurring.
- Alcohol use: In some cases, alcohol use can increase the chances of breast cancer development.
- Occupational risk: Some jobs may expose workers to dangerous conditions capable of causing various cancers.
An Early Cancer Diagnosis Can Result in a Better Outcome
The sooner any type of cancer is detected and properly diagnosed, the better the patient’s chances are of undergoing successful treatment. Early detection allows for less aggressive treatments while a cancer is in a more easily curable state. If the cancer goes undetected or is misdiagnosed as another medical condition, the resulting delay in treatment can have significant consequences.
Potential Treatment Methods for Breast Cancer
Treatments for breast cancer are generally selected depending on the type of cancer and how aggressively it has spread. Oftentimes, more than one treatment may be used in an attempt to generate the best possible outcome for a cancer patient. Some possible treatment methods include:
- Surgical removal of cancer tissue
- Hormonal therapy to prevent cancer cells from growing
- Chemotherapy to shrink or kill cancer cells
- Biological therapy to help the immune system battle cancer or control side effects from other treatments
- Radiation therapy to target and eliminate cancer cells
How Does a Doctor Decide Which Cancer Treatment to Use?
When treating any form of cancer, a doctor is obligated to uphold a reasonable standard of care. To uphold a standard of care, a doctor or medical specialist must display a similar level of knowledge, skill, and care in their diagnosis and treatment methods as those of other practitioners in their field. Your doctor should recommend the most effective, approved treatments to tackle whichever form of cancer you are fighting.
To determine the best way to treat your unique medical condition, your doctor will determine the cancer’s location, size, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. This will give them an idea of the cancer’s aggressiveness, whether there is a risk of it coming back after treatment, and how other patients with similar conditions reacted to various treatment methods. The doctor should also take into account the patient’s goals and pre-existing medical conditions to help them determine the best course of action.
Discuss Breast Cancer Risks With Your Doctor Today
If you have any high-risk factors for breast cancer, you should reach out to your doctor to discuss screening methods as soon as possible. While many women will, fortunately, not experience cancer at any point in their life, it is never a bad idea to undergo routine screening to check for any potential problems. We hope this article helps you stay heathy and minimize your risk to the greatest extent possible.