HOW MANY MAJOR CAUSE OF BREAST CANCER AMONG WOMEN

Pakistan is a developing country and most of the population is living in rural areas. In rural areas of Pakistan, no formal health infrastructure is available for the rural population. Illiteracy is also a major cause of breast cancer among women because women have no awareness of personal hygienic conditions. Pakistan has the highest incidence of breast cancer among Asian countries: one in nine women is at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Although women have many more breast cells than men, the main reason they develop more breast cancer is that their breast cells are constantly exposed to the growth-promoting effects of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Breast cancer represents a significant health problem because of the number of individuals affected by this disease. Thirty percent of all cancers in women occur in the breast, making it the most commonly diagnosed female cancer. Breast cancer is among the top 20 causes of death in Pakistan. Various phenomena serve as protective as well as risk factors for breast cancer. Several characteristics proving to be risk factors include age, weight, family history, physical activity, smoking, and hormonal and reproductive factors. Women of advanced age, having middle-class family backgrounds, higher body mass indexes, and a high ratio of incomplete pregnancies are at significantly increased risk of breast cancer. Despite the treatment strategies applied to patients, satisfaction regarding the course of treatment is not standard. Psychiatric guidance and moral help can assist to improve a patient's quality of life.
Cancer
Uncontrolled and undefined growth of abnormal cells in the body is known as cancer. It is the second leading cause of death in the world. In a normal cycle of multiplication, the cells in the body multiply in a regular manner according to the body\\\'s need and die accordingly. In cancer, however, the cells in the body divide quickly and their growth becomes uncontrollable. It may also occur because the cells forget their life span and do not die. There are different kinds of cancers. Cancer may develop in any organ or tissue such as blood, brain, liver, ovary, breast, lungs, kidneys, bones, and colon. There is a high rate of incidence of major types of cancers worldwide.¹
Breast Cancer
Malignant breast neoplasm or breast cancer is a type of cancer that originates from tissues of the breast — either from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Two main types of breast cancer usually exist lobular carcinoma and ductal carcinoma. Breast cancer may also start in other areas of the breast, but that is rare. Therefore, sometimes it may also be classified as invasive or non-invasive. Non-invasive breast cancer is called carcinoma in situ.² A lump different from the rest of the breast tissue is felt as the first noticeable symptom of breast cancer. Other indications include dimpling of the skin, spontaneous single-nipple discharge, inversion of the nipple, or change in the size or shape of the breast. The pain of the breast normally referred to as mastodynia may be indicative of any breast health issue and is not considered to be a reliable tool to determine the presence or absence of breast cancer.³
Prevalence of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is considered to be the most common malignancy in women. Its prevalence data indicate that one million new cases are reported each year in the world and it accounts for nearly 18% of all female cancers. According to a report by the American Cancer Society (ACS) published in 1992, Australia, North America, New Zealand, and Europe are considered to be the high-risk zone while Africa and Asia represent the zone of lower risk. Similarly, in Japan and China the incidence is low, while in Pakistan, breast cancer is the most common malignancy in females. Except for Jews in Israel, Karachi is supposed to have the highest incidence of breast cancer among the Asian population.
Risk Factors
A risk factor is anything that increases the incidence of getting a disease. Different kinds of risk factors exist for different cancers. Some factors cannot be changed; these are known as non-modifiable risk factors. These include a person\\\'s race or age. Some factors are linked to the environment. Other factors which are related to personal behavior, such as drinking, smoking, and diet, can be controlled. These factors are known as modifiable risk factors. Different cancers have different risk factors and the same is the case with breast cancer. However, risk factors are not the ultimate signs of developing breast cancer. Many patients having breast cancer do not have any predominant risk factors, whereas many females having one or more risk factors do not develop this pathology at all.