Two principal areas are probed by researches to find out the causes of breast cancer. One factor that can play a significant role is genetics which the other is environment and the increased levels of toxins in our surroundings.
According to several organizations, there is a great risk factor for individuals if the woman has a close relative who has had a breast cancer- like mother, sister, aunt, or cousin in the family blood line. Two genetic markers exhibit a vulnerability to cancer viz. BRCA 1 and BRCA 2. These are clearly designated Breast cancer gene-1 and Breast cancer gene-2. Most people have two copies of these genes in their cells.
They function normally to keep up the health of breast cells by developing them and guard against the possibility of cancer. A protein that controls normal cell growth is produced. But any genetic abnormality or mutation increases the susceptibility to breast cancer. The abnormal growth goes unchecked.Even if one parent has the abnormality it can be inherited. But this is not the patent cause for many breast cancers. Only about 10% of women are affected genetically. Breast cancer can be identified even without a test for genetic abnormality if a person has close blood relation on either side of the family who have had breast cancer before the age of fifty, if the cancer was in both the breasts, or if a person had both ovarian and breast cancer.
However, the existence of genetic disposition reduces the risk of inheritance for the children when family members marry with others who do not have abnormal genes. We should not forget that the presence of genetic predisposition is not a sure indication of the possibility of breast cancer. Many other factors like the life style, the toxicity of environment and the presence of other protective genes for the health of the body matter. According to research, most women affected with breast cancer do not belong to the family genetic history. It is heartening and hopeful to know that genetics is not the conclusive and confirming factor for breast cancer. Quite a few other factors contribute to it and irrespective of our personal circumstances we can adopt many measures that can prevent this dreadful malady.