Cancer Specialist in Pune | Dr.Snita Sinukumar

Breast Cancer is the most common form of cancer among Indian women. Three-fourths of the cases of breast cancer occur in women ages 35 and 55 years


The lobes, lobules and bulbs are all linked by thin tubes called ducts.These ducts lead to the nipple in the center of a dark area of skin called the areola.

Fat surrounds the lobules and ducts.There are no muscles in the breast, but muscles lie under each breast and cover the ribs.


Each breast also contains blood vessels and lymph vessels.

The lymph vessels carry colorless fluid, called lymph, and lead to small bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes.


Lymph nodes arealso found in many other parts of the body. Over her lifetime, a woman can encounter a broad variety of breast conditions.



Risk Factors:


Personal history of breast cancer.Women who have had breast cancer face an increased risk of getting breast cancer in their other breast.

Genetic alterations. Changes in certain genes (BRCA1, BRCA2 and others) increase the risk


Family history of breast cancer. A woman’s risk for developing breast cancer increases if her mother, sister, or maternal /paternal grandparents or aunts had breast cancer, especially at a young age.

Certain breast changes. Having a diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ

(LCIS) may increase a woman’s risk for developing cancer.

Estrogen. Evidence suggests that the longer a woman is exposed to estrogen (estrogen made by

the body, taken as a drug, or delivered by a patch), the more likely she is to develop breast cancer. For example, the risk is somewhat increased among women who begin menstruation before age 12, experience menopause after age 50, never have children, or take hormone replacement therapy for long periods of time. Each of these factors increases the amount of time a woman’s body is exposed to estrogen. DES (diethylstilbestrol), a synthetic form of estrogen, was used between the early 1940s and 1971.Women who took DES during pregnancy to prevent certain complications are at a slightly higher risk for breast cancer.This does not appear to be the case for their daughters who were exposed to DES before birth. However, more studies are needed as these daughters enter the age range when breast cancer is more common.



Alcohol. Some studies suggest a slightly higher risk of breast cancer among women who drink alcohol.

Diet and dietary factors. Some evidence exists that a diet high in animal fat may increase the risk of breast cancer and a diet high in fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk.


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