Treatment of Breast Cancer at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

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Breast Cancer Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases the susceptibility of getting a disease. Different conditions have different risk factors. Risk factors also differ among different types of cancers. For instance, smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer and an over-exposure to sunlight is a primary risk factor for skin cancer. Breast cancer risk factors include gender, age, genetics, race/ethnicity and lifestyle factors.

Gender
Women are more likely to develop breast cancer than men. The primary reason for this disparity is the overexposure of breast cells to female hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen—which increases the chances of breast cancer.

Age
Age is a significant risk factor for breast cancer and a woman is more likely to develop breast cancer as she ages.

Genetics
Genetics are a breast cancer risk factor and between 5 and 10 percent of all breast cancers are due to genetic mutations. These mutations are carried down from parents to children, manifesting in the form of breast cancer at some point in life. Mutations to two specific genes, namely BRCA1 and BRCA2, are the most common cause of hereditary breast cancer.

Race/Ethnicity
White women are more likely to develop breast cancer than Asian, Hispanic and African-American women. The exact cause of this disparity is unknown.

Lifestyle Factors
Certain lifestyle factors increase the chances of developing breast cancer. These include using birth control pills, HRT (hormone replacement therapy), not breast feeding, alcohol, obesity, high-fat diets, breast implants, smoking and tobacco smoke in the environment and lack of physical activity.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, they offer integrative, whole person care. Contact one of their representatives all day, every day by phone or online chat. Cancer Treatment Centers of America has Hospitals in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Zion Illinois, Tulsa Oklahoma, and Goodyear Arizona. For more information on their integrative treatment options for Breast Cancer, call today.

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