Breast cancer is a common disease. It’s a deadly disease driven by rapid and uncontrollable growth of breast cells.
Many factors cause breast cancer. Some factors are inherited, acquired, habitual, or environmental. While you can control some aspects to lower the risk of developing breast cancer, you can not control your genetics.
If you are concerned about whether you are a target of breast cancer hereditary, read on to understand everything about breast cancer and how it is inherited.
Who is at Risk of Inherited Breast Cancer?
People having a family with a medical history of cancer are at higher risk of passing down breast cancer. The most common cause of inherited breast cancer is gene mutation.
However, genetic mutation is sporadic. As a result, the chances of inherited breast cancer are meagre. If you have any of the below factors, you may be at a higher risk in comparison to others:
- Family members with a medical history of cancers, such as breast, colon, ovarian, etc.
- Blood relative having cancer at a young age
- Having more than one family member from the same side of the family with breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, or melanoma cancer.
Is There Any Test for Inherited Breast Cancer?
If you risk developing inherited breast cancer, you have a BRCA gene mutation. The best course of action to lower the chance of getting breast cancer is to go for a BRCA gene test.
The BRCA gene test is a medical test where your blood sample is taken under examination to assess if your body is at the chance of developing breast cancer. The test simply identifies any gene mutations in your DNA of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
For your better understanding, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are breast cancer genes responsible for regulating cell growth. Any change in these genes can lead to breast cancer.
What to do If I have Breast Cancer Hereditary?
As discussed above, the best step to assess if you are at risk of inherited breast cancer is to go for a BRCA gene test.
Moreover, remember that people who carry BRCA gene mutations don’t always develop breast cancer. But, if you do, the BRCA gene test can help you detect breast cancer early – allowing you and your doctor to devise an early preventative plan to increase the chances of surviving it.
Some other things to do to reduce the risk of breast cancer are;
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a balanced weight is key to a healthy life. If you are underweight or overweight, you can be exposed to developing certain cancers. Hence, we recommend incorporating healthy vegetables, fruits, and regular exercise to maintain a balanced weight. This is one of the most influential and easiest ways to lower the risk of developing breast cancer.
Do Regular Breast Check
Another thing to add to your routine is self-examining your breast for any possible abnormalities, firmness, or hardness of the nipples, breast, or near the armpit. If you feel any abnormality or cyst in your breast, it’s best to consult a general physician and take a quick screening test.
Some Other Steps to Follow
Here is a list of more things to do if you are concerned about hereditary breast cancer in your life;
- Frequent clinical breast exam
- Look for nipple tenderness or lump around the breast
- Changes in breast or nipple skin texture
- Limit the alcohol consumption
Conclusion
Knowing you have the chance of developing and passing down breast cancer to your children can be challenging. But that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can not do. We hope this article will help you lower the risk of developing inherited breast cancer.
