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Understanding Breast Cancer: Types, Symptoms & Prevention of Breast Cancer in Seniors
Lisa Reisman • Aug 28, 2019
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Understanding Breast Cancer
We all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, as it stands to be the most common type of cancer in women, unfortunately with an incidence rising with age. According to an article by Medscape, “The median age for breast cancer diagnosis is approximately 60 years, and over 40% of all breast cancers diagnosed are in women aged 65 years or older.” Understanding breast cancer and the factors that put you at risk may help you prepare for the future, while learning to perform important self-examinations to keep in touch with your body can catch abnormalities early on.
What is Breast Cancer?
There are various types of breast cancers, and most are considered to be carcinomas called adenocarcinoma, which start in cells that make glands— breast adenocarcinomas start in a woman’s milk-producing milk glands. Breast cancer can also be made up of sarcomas, which start in the cells of muscle, or fat. There are some forms of breast cancer that are not to be concerned with, ductal carcinoma in situ, and lobular carcinoma in situ. Both of these, although hard to complicated to say, are often times chances in the cellular makeup of the breast and can look like cancer, yet are benign. Some of the more serious classes of breast cancer are invasive (or infiltrating), where cancerous cells break through normal breast tissue barriers and spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymph nodes. Invasive types of breast cancer include lobular carcinoma, adenoid cystic (or adenocystic) carcinoma, and medullary carcinoma, just to name a few.
The symptoms of breast cancer can vary person to person, and it’s important to recognize these symptoms early on. The Cancer Treatment Center of America provides us with some of the more common signs and symptoms of invasive breast cancer, which include:
Irritated or itchy breasts
Change in breast color
Increase in breast size or shape (over a short period of time)
Changes in touch (may feel hard, tender or warm)
Peeling or flaking of the nipple skin
A breast lump or thickening
Redness or pitting of the breast skin (like the skin of an orange)
If you have experienced any of these symptoms, please contact you doctor immediately.
Am I at Risk?
Women who are over the age of 60 are the most commonly diagnosed with breast cancer, but race and ethnicity has a part to play in your chances of developing the cancer as well. White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African American, Hispanic, and Asian women. African American women, however, are more likely to develop a more aggressive, later-stage breast cancer that’s formed at a young age, making them more likely to die from the disease. “Some of these differences in outcomes may be due to less access to mammography and lower quality medical care, as well as various lifestyle patterns (eating habits and weight issues for example) that are more common in some ethnic groups than in others,” according to Breastcancer.org. While we understand changing our ethnic background isn’t an option, you can find yourself or a loved one better access to healthcare, which will provide better tools to improve overall health.
Genetics are another factor in regarding whether or not you may be more prone to developing breast cancer—particularly women with a mother, daughter, or sister who has had breast cancer will double the risk for that individual. Inherited genetic mutations may also be something to look out for. We fortunately, live in a day and age where genetic testing has come a long way, and if you think based on ethnicity and family genetics that you could be at risk for developing breast cancer someday, you might want to be tested for a mutation in your BRCA gene. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention informs us that these mutations prevent genes from doing their job properly. “Certain mutations in the BRCA genes make cells more likely to divide and change rapidly, which can lead to cancer.” All women have BCRA1 and BCRA 2 genes, but only some have mutations in these genes. “About 1 in every 500 women in the United States has a mutation in either her BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. If either your mother or your father has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, you have a 50% chance of having the same gene mutation.” If you’re interested in knowing your chances of possessing this mutation, contact your doctor and have the specific blood test performed.
A Healthy Lifestyle
For older women at risk of developing breast cancer, some changes in your lifestyle may play a role in lowering your chances. High levels of estrogen are associated with weight gain, which add to your chances of developing breast cancer. Physical activity, for those who are capable, in the form of regular exercise should be done 4-5 days a week in order to keep weight at a healthy number. Limited alcohol consumption should also be considered if you’re trying to prevent breast cancer from forming— one should focus on implementing a healthy diet overall with antioxidant rich foods. In addition to exercise and a healthy diet, try to avoid chemicals that you might find yourself using whether it’s on your body or in your home.
A simple change may be switching to an aluminum-free antiperspirant. According to The National Cancer Institute, some research suggests that aluminum-containing underarm antiperspirants, which are applied frequently and left on the skin near the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and have estrogen-like (hormonal) effects. “Because estrogen can promote the growth of breast cancer cells, some scientists have suggested that the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may contribute to the development of breast cancer.” Although no scientific evidence suggests the correlation between aluminum based deodorants and breast cancer, several scientists and others have suggested a possible connection between their use and breast cancer given the potentially harmful ingredients being applied so close to a woman’s breast.
Adult women of all ages should regularly perform breast self-examinations, especially those who are over the age of 60. If you or a loved one have a family history of breast cancer, follow these five steps
to self-exam and keep in tune with your body to catch any abnormalities. If you think you feel a mass or something doesn’t seem right, call your physician to schedule a mammogram.
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