Did you know?
Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women after skin cancer. In Canada, 1 in 8 women are expected to develop breast cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 34 will die of it. In 2024, an estimated 30,500 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,500 will die of it. While not common, men can also develop breast cancer.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer occurs when abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours. These tumours can spread throughout the body and be fatal. Most breast cancers begin either in the glands for milk production, called lobules, or in the ducts that connect the lobules to the nipple. When cancer cells spread into nearby breast tissue, it is referred to as invasive. If the cancer cells go beyond the breast tissue and are found in lymph nodes or other areas such as lungs, liver, brain, or bone, it is referred to as metastatic.
What are the Risk Factors?
Some factors we cannot change such as:
Genes like BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene 1) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene 2), these are genes that produce proteins that help repair damaged DNA.
Increasing age – most breast cancer diagnoses occur after the age of 50
Dense breast tissue - makes it harder to detect.
Family history - especially immediate family member (mother, father, sister, brother)
Starting periods early – younger than age 12
Going through menopause later – after age 55
Not having children
Other factors you can change are:
Taking hormones - long-term (more than 5 years) for treatment of menopausal symptoms
Alcohol consumption –while there is no “safe” limit, having more than three drinks/week increases your risk
Obesity – fat cells make estrogen and extra fat cells means more estrogen
Exercise – being active can lower your risk
Smoking – this also includes second hand smoke
Sleep
Exposure to chemicals (pesticides, lead, BPA)
What are the Signs and Symptoms?
Most people will not have any symptoms when the cancer is still early, so early detection is important.
Symptoms may include:
breast lump or thickening (often without pain),
a change in size, shape or appearance,
dimpling, redness, pitting
change in nipple or areola (the skin around the nipple) appearance.
abnormal or bloody fluid from the nipple.
Anyone experiencing the above symptoms should seek medical care.
What is Screening Mammogram?
Screening means looking for disease when there are no symptoms. It can help to find breast cancer before symptoms start. A screening mammogram is an x-ray of the breast, and it is used to detect abnormalities within the breast tissue. Through regular screenings, radiologists can look for changes over time. If cancer is detected early, the better the chances for successful treatment.
There are differing views on when to start screening and how often to have it done. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends screening if you are between the ages of 40 to 74 years to be done every two years. Anyone 75 years of age or older should speak to their healthcare provider about whether having a mammogram is right for you. However, provinces and territories differ in the age and frequency at which they offer mammograms, particularly to women in their 40’s. To learn more about mammogram access in your province visit: mybreastscreening.ca
Be Breast Aware
Pay attention to how your breasts look and feel. If you want to learn more check out:
knowyourlemons.org/how-to-self-exam
WRITTEN BY: Lucy Wang, pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Educator®, in 2017
Updated By: Moira Reiley, pharmacist, in 2024
References:
Canadian Cancer Society (May 2024) Breast cancer statistics | Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Cancer Society (April 2024) Screening for breast cancer | Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Center on Substance Abuse and Addiction. (Jan 2023) Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health
Dense Breasts Canada (2024) DBC-Screening-Guide-Draft-13
Government of Canada (2024) Breast Cancer - Canada.ca
Mayo Clinic. (2024) Breast cancer - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
