Known Causes of Breast Cancer for Women Rock!

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Known Causes of Breast Cancerfor Women Rock!

• Crispin H Pierce, Ph.D.
• Environmental Public Health Program
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

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What is Cancer?

• An uncontrolled growth of mutated cells.
• Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the
  site of origin to different parts of the body.

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How Does Cancer Develop?

• First there is damage to the DNA from a chemical
  (e.g., benzene) or a physical agent (e.g.,
  radiation), or we are born with a defective gene
  (e.g., mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene).

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• Second, further exposure to damaging chemicals or
  physical agents allows the mutated DNA to be
  replicated in many cells.

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• Third, the mutated cells grow without control,
  forming a tumor.

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Overall Causes of Cancer
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What are the Known Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?

• Family history of breast cancer. Having a mother,
  sister, or daughter with breast cancer doubles a
  woman's risk.
• However, 70-80 of women who develop breast
  cancer have no family history of this disease.

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• Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
• 5-10 of breast cancer cases are related to
  mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

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• Exposure to estrogenic compounds early start to
  menarche (lt12), late menopause (gt65).

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What are the Known Causes of Breast Cancer?

• Early exposure to radiation.
• Exposure to radiation treatment in the chest area
  raises the risk. Regular X-rays do not raise
  risk of breast cancer.

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• Alcohol use.
• One drink per day raises risk slightly, 2-5
  drinks per day raised the risk to 150 of
  non-drinkers.

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• Being overweight or obese.
• Weight gain during adulthood, waist fat, and
  being overweight after menopause are associated
  with greater breast cancer rates.

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• Exposure to estrogenic compounds recent use of
  birth control pills, not having children or
  having children after 30, hormone replacement
  therapy, not breast feeding.

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• Lack of exercise.
• As little as 1.25 hours per week of brisk walking
  reduces risk.

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• Maternal use of diethylstilbestrol (DES).
• Pollution exposure to some chlorinated organics,
  polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and
  triazine herbicides.
• Night work?
• High fat diet?
• Infectious agents?

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How Can We Reduce Risk?

• Maintain a diet focused on fruits, vegetables and
  whole grains.

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• Minimize alcohol consumption.
• Get regular exercise and maintain a body mass
  index of lt 25 kg/m2.

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• Perform regular self-exams and get regular
  mammograms.
• Consider testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes if
  there is a familial risk of breast cancer.
• Use Tamoxifen or Raloxifene if at high risk for
  breast cancer.

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Contact Information

• Crispin H Pierce, PhD
• piercech_at_uwec.edu
• 715-836-5589

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This is Why I Care