Diagnosis

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Diagnosis

Chapter: 4 - Diagnosis

Subchapter: 1 - Causes of Breast Cancer

Causes of Breast Cancer

- What if it’s cancer?
- What caused it?
- What should I do now?
- How is breast cancer treated?
- How long will treatment take?
- What will it be like?
- Will I be okay?
- What about my family?

When a lump or suspicious site in your breast is detected, it raises some serious questions. In this chapter, we are going to do our best to answer them. We will discuss what doctors know and do not know, how to react to your diagnosis as well as how to understand it, and how to move beyond the shock.

Risk Factors
So what do scientists actually know about the causes of cancer? It’s a difficult question. Cancer grows when a cell’s DNA is damaged, which we discussed in Chapter 3, but why or how that DNA becomes damaged is still unknown. It could be genetic or environmental, or in most cases a combination of the two. But most patients will never know exactly what caused their cancer.

However, there are certain established risk factors that are associated with breast cancer:

- A family history with breast cancer
- Early menstruation (before age 12)
- Late menopause (after 55)
- Breast tissue that is more dense with lobular and ductal tissue relative to fatty tissue
- Noncancerous cell abnormalities

These factors are genetic, they are not something you can control.

60-70% of people with breast cancer have no connection to them at all, and other people with risk factors will never develop cancer.

Related Questions

  • Missing

    all of a sudden I have dark large veins on my breasts!Why

    Asked by anonymous

    Learning About Breast Cancer
    4 months ago 1 answers •
    • anonymous
      Survivor since 2009

      Have you been thru any treatment? I know my radiation left some permanent spots on my breast.

      Comment

  • How do you know if you have breast cancer?

    Asked by anonymous

    Learning About Breast Cancer
    almost 2 years ago 3 answers •
    • anonymous
      Learning About Breast Cancer

      Chelsea,

      There may be no signs at all. Some people say they've had pain or other things, but I didn't. I felt a lump in my breast and didn't think much of it. After a couple of weeks it was still there, so I decided to go see my doctor. The mammogram located it and a biospy confirmed it was...

      more

      Chelsea,

      There may be no signs at all. Some people say they've had pain or other things, but I didn't. I felt a lump in my breast and didn't think much of it. After a couple of weeks it was still there, so I decided to go see my doctor. The mammogram located it and a biospy confirmed it was cancer.

      Comment
    • anonymous
      Learning About Breast Cancer

      Ihave lumps everywhere but it's just tissue

      Comment

  • today is the day i.get my lumpectmy im excited and im.scared is.it.normal

    Asked by anonymous

    Learning About Breast Cancer
    6 months ago 10 answers •
    • View all 10 answers
    • anonymous
      Stage 1 Patient

      Kristina,

      Comment
    • anonymous
      Stage 2A Patient

      I hope all went well with your surgery! Rest and have a speedy recovery!

      Comment

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