Breast cancer is the most common neoplasia in Colombia. In 2023, it registered 107,181 prevalent cases of cancer and around 9,716 new cases, most of them diagnosed at the invasive stage, according to statistics from the High Cost Account (CAC). For women, it constitutes a latent threat, but at the same time totally preventable and curable if detected in time.
In light of these statistics, at the Astorga Clinic we want to encourage women to be proactive with the prevention of breast cancer and its early detection. A path that begins with healthy lifestyle choices and specialized medical follow-up, which helps to significantly reduce their risk of developing this disease and to enjoy a longer and fuller life.
Breast Cancer Prevention: What to Do and How to Do It
Breast cancer prevention involves taking measures that help reduce the likelihood of getting sick with this disease, and the importance of this lies in the fact that even though it is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) , it can be prevented by acting in time.
Although some factors cannot be avoided, such as having a family or genetic history, there are others that can be reduced by modifying your lifestyle with the recommendations of expert oncologists who will also monitor your case.
However, it is true that some women develop breast cancer without having any known risk factors, therefore, the factors are simply that: conditions that increase the likelihood of developing a disease. They are not determinants.
If you identify with one, it does not mean that you will necessarily have this diagnosis. Likewise, not having anything does not exempt you from developing the disease. In any case, it is always good to have a medical check-up with professional oncologists who will know how to guide you in the prevention, cure or treatment of this cancer.
Modifiable risk factors
Being obese or overweight:
Postmenopausal women over 40 years of age who are obese are more likely to develop breast cancer. And although the risk of overweight is more associated with postmenopausal women, premenopausal patients also show a positive link with this factor.
Leading a sedentary life:
Lack of physical activity creates metabolic conditions conducive to this diagnosis. For example, 81.9% of Mexican women with breast cancer had a high level of sedentary lifestyle, according to studies by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEG).
Using oral hormonal contraceptives:
Birth control pills have been considered a risk factor for breast cancer for three decades. However, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and other research suggest further studies are needed to establish a more specific relationship.
Taking hormones:
Hormone replacement therapies that include estrogen and progesterone are considered a risk factor if taken during menopause and for more than five years.
Drinking alcohol:
The risk of suffering from this cancer increases when the amount of alcohol you consume daily increases. The Mexican Federation of Colleges of Obstetrics and Gynecology establishes that drinking more than one alcoholic drink a day or 10 g of alcohol a day is already considered a risk factor.
Smoking tobacco:
Similarly, smoking one cigarette a day for a year is considered a risk factor in women over or under 40 years of age.
Reproductive history:
First-time mothers after age 30, women who have not breastfed, and those who have never had a full-term pregnancy may also be more likely to develop breast cancer.
Reduce these risks with a better lifestyle
Quit smoking. Quitting tobacco is an immediate form of breast cancer prevention, and its benefits increase over time.
Drink alcohol in moderation. Control or limit it as much as possible, even small amounts of alcohol are still a risk.
Be physically active. Being active with exercise can help you control your weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Just 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week (30 minutes, 5 days a week) and some strength training is recommended.
Get medical follow-up if you take birth control pills or receive hormone replacement therapy. Get medical follow-up if you have a history of breast cancer or inherited certain genes. When relatives who had or have breast cancer are first-degree relatives (mother, sister or daughter) there is an increased risk of developing it. Similarly, women who inherit BRCA1 (breast cancer type 1) and BRCA2 (breast cancer type 2) genes may develop risks depending on their type of genetic mutation, family history, and other factors.
The importance of nutrition and exercise
The coordinator of the Breast Cancer Biology Research Group at the INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Ana Lluch, says that both physical exercise and diet help control obesity and overweight, two risk factors that cause excess sexual hormones, which can stimulate the growth of cancer cells. At the same time, they strengthen the immune system's defenses to fight precisely the malignant cells that arise in the body.
Likewise, exercise helps reduce the risk of recurrence if you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past, as it favors the regulation of hormones, such as insulin and estrogen. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) showed that active women have a 67% lower risk of relapse and a 45% lower risk of death from cancer.
On the other hand, diet is an important way of preventing breast cancer, the suggested diet is:
Variety of fruits and vegetables: These are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can intervene with the growth of cancer cells.
High-fiber foods: This helps and speeds up the process of eliminating estrogen.
Low-fat milk and dairy products: These are a good source of calcium, which is important for bones and overall health.
Soy products: Soy contains isoflavones whose higher intake is associated with lower mortality from cancer.
Foods rich in vitamin D: This is important for the health of the immune system and can help protect against breast cancer.
Early detection of breast cancer: self-exams and mammograms
Even though it is a malignant disease, breast cancer can be cured with an early diagnosis. Medical follow-up and gynecological check-ups are essential for the early detection of breast cancer or any abnormality that makes us suspect it.
However, the most effective method of early detection is mammography, reducing death from this cancer by up to 30% in women over 50 years of age, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
This exam should be started from the age of 40 or even earlier, if your doctor considers you prone to suffer the diagnosis. In any case, you should not be afraid, it will be a 20-minute procedure and it is completely safe: you will only be exposed to a minimal amount of radiation.
When you do it, the X-ray technician will place you standing in front of the machine with your torso uncovered. One of your breasts will be placed on a plastic platform. Then, it will be covered with another plate and pressed firmly. You will feel some pressure and your breast will remain still during the X-ray. The process will then be repeated with the other breast.
The process of squeezing the breast helps to spread out the tissue and make any abnormalities, such as tumors or other signs of cancer, visible. These results will be read by a radiologist after your appointment.
How to do a breast self-exam
In addition to mammography, it is essential to make breast self-examination a habit. This practice will help you discover small lumps or changes in the breasts that warn of a possible problem, which is why it is considered a powerful tool for preventing breast cancer.
Especially if you are under 40 years old and/or have a family history of this cancer, self-examination is 100% recommended, since the disease tends to be more aggressive in young women.
To perform a correct breast self-examination, follow these steps:
Step 1: Feel for lumps, indentations, or redness in your breasts.
Step 2: Check that both breasts are at the same level.
Step 3: Repeat both steps with your arms open and your hands on the back of your neck.
Step 4: With one hand still on the back of your neck, feel one breast. To do this, use three fingers and apply circular movements. Repeat the same on the opposite breast.
Step 5: Repeat steps 3 and 4, but now lying down.
Step 6: Take the nipple and press to check that no fluid comes out.
What should I do if I find an abnormality in my self-exam or mammogram?
If you find a lump or mass that is noticeably firmer than the rest of your breast tissue during a breast self-exam, it is extremely important to have it evaluated by a primary care physician.
No matter its size, location, or whether or not it is painless and/or mobile, any lump, redness, or abnormality in general should be evaluated by a health professional; healthy tissue should feel like a sponge or fibrous mesh throughout the entire breast.
Now, this discovery is nothing to be afraid of. Most lumps are harmless and not cancerous; however, it is important not to ignore it as a possible warning sign. Remember that early detection of breast cancer is also a way to prevent something bad from happening.
If there is something wrong with your mammogram
If your mammogram is abnormal, your doctor will order more tests to find out exactly what's going on. This shouldn't scare you either. Abnormal doesn't necessarily mean cancer. In fact, only 1 in 10 abnormal mammograms are abnormal.
Your doctor may also refer you to a breast oncologist or surgeon who can order tests and follow up on the results. An experienced professional will know exactly what steps to take to determine your situation and treat it in the quickest, safest and most effective way, if there is a problem.
The next steps might include:
Biopsy: Removal of a small sample of tissue to be tested in a lab to determine if cancer cells are present.
Core needle biopsy: A thick needle is used to remove a sample of tissue, usually guided by ultrasound.
Ultrasound: A technique that uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. It may be used to guide a core needle biopsy.
Diagnostic mammogram: Used to obtain more detailed images of the breast after an abnormal screening mammogram. It can help determine if cancer is present.
Key points not to forget
We hope that at this point, we can all conclude that:
Controlling risk factors and creating healthy habits are the most proactive way to prevent this disease. Breast cancer kills, but it can be prevented and cured if detected early.
Having risk factors does not mean that you will get cancer, but not having them does not make you immune to this disease either. Don't leave it to chance. Follow up with your doctor and adopt good habits.
The most effective way to prevent and detect breast cancer early is still mammography and self-examination. Don't be complacent and make both a habit.
Remember that we are talking about the most curable cancer at an early stage. Don't let the fear of a bad result prevent you from going to a specialist or getting a mammogram if you suspect something is wrong.
Don't be scared if they see something on your mammogram or discover a lump in your breast self-examination. Specialist oncologists will know how to determine exactly what is happening and act in the best way for your case.
Don't wait until it's too late to take care of your breasts. At the Astorga Oncology Clinic we want to help you prevent breast cancer by inviting you to schedule your mammogram right now. We have the only three-dimensional mammography system in all of Colombia, which means that:
You will obtain a high-resolution image, increasing the possibility of detecting invasive breast cancers by 75%.
We will be able to detect lesions of up to 0.2 millimeters in less than 4 minutes.
You will reduce the radiation dose during mammography by 45%.
We know that this can be a worrying time for you. That's why we will provide you with the care and human quality you need, supporting you and answering any questions you may have, both for you and your loved ones.
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