Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, after skin cancer. It affects men very rarely. It is most treatable when caught early, therefore it is important to do regular breast exams and regular physician visits.
Breast Cancer falls under theCancercategory.
Last Updated:October 13, 2024
Breast cancer begins in the breast tissue, grows uncontrollably, and typically forms a solid tumor. It is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. and primarily originates in the milk-carrying ducts.
The main signs and symptoms of breast cancer include a new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit, pain or changes in breast shape/size, skin dimpling or puckering, unusual nipple discharge, and scaly or swollen skin in the breast or nipple area. It's important to note that many breast lumps are noncancerous.
Breast cancer is diagnosed after a clinical breast exam that reveals lumps or unusual changes, followed by extensive testing such as imaging tests, biopsies, and blood tests. Additional tests are conducted to characterize the cancer and tailor treatment options.
The main medical treatments for breast cancer include lumpectomy or mastectomy, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. These approaches aim to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue or target cancer cells in various ways.
Research on dietary supplements for breast cancer is limited, and some studies have examined vitamin C, vitamin D, beta-carotene, and turkey tail. Additionally, there is interest in EPA and DHA for alleviating chemotherapy side effects.
A nutritious and balanced diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and unrefined cereals and low in saturated fats and red meat is associated with increased survival and better treatment tolerability for people with breast cancer. Diets like the Mediterranean Diet and DASH diet have also been associated with improved outcomes and quality of life in this population.
Preventative treatments for breast cancer include lifestyle interventions like exercise, limited use of alcohol, and breastfeeding, which may reduce risk. Additionally, mind-body practices such as yoga and mindfulness may enhance quality of life for people with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy.
Breast cancer is caused by DNA mutations that can be inherited or developed from lifestyle and environmental factors. Risk factors include older age, personal history of breast disease, genetic mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2, obesity, alcohol use, and increased estrogen exposure from various life conditions.
- ^Breast Cancer
- ^Salas S, Cottet V, Dossus L, Fassier P, Ginhac J, Latino-Martel P, Romieu I, Schneider S, Srour B, Touillaud M, Touvier M, Ancellin RNutritional Factors during and after Cancer: Impacts on Survival and Quality of Life.Nutrients.(2022-Jul-19)
- ^De Cicco P, Catani MV, Gasperi V, Sibilano M, Quaglietta M, Savini INutrition and Breast Cancer: A Literature Review on Prevention, Treatment and Recurrence.Nutrients.(2019-Jul-03)
- ^Cava E, Marzullo P, Farinelli D, Gennari A, Saggia C, Riso S, Prodam FBreast Cancer Diet "BCD": A Review of Healthy Dietary Patterns to Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence and Reduce Mortality.Nutrients.(2022-Jan-21)
- ^Yi LJ, Tian X, Jin YF, Luo MJ, Jiménez-Herrera MFEffects of yoga on health-related quality, physical health and psychological health in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Ann Palliat Med.(2021-Feb)
- ^Schell LK, Monsef I, Wöckel A, Skoetz NMindfulness-based stress reduction for women diagnosed with breast cancer.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2019-03-27)
- ^PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial BoardBreast Cancer Prevention (PDQ®): Health Professional Version
- ^Duffy SW, Tabár L, Yen AM, Dean PB, Smith RA, Jonsson H, Törnberg S, Chen SL, Chiu SY, Fann JC, Ku MM, Wu WY, Hsu CY, Chen YC, Svane G, Azavedo E, Grundström H, Sundén P, Leifland K, Frodis E, Ramos J, Epstein B, Åkerlund A, Sundbom A, Bordás P, Wallin H, Starck L, Björkgren A, Carlson S, Fredriksson I, Ahlgren J, Öhman D, Holmberg L, Chen THMammography screening reduces rates of advanced and fatal breast cancers: Results in 549,091 women.Cancer.(2020-07-01)
- ^Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
- Breast Cancer Risk - Schernhammer ES, Berrino F, Krogh V, Secreto G, Micheli A, Venturelli E, Grioni S, Sempos CT, Cavalleri A, Schünemann HJ, Strano S, Muti PUrinary 6-Sulphatoxymelatonin levels and risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women: the ORDET cohortCancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev.(2010 Mar)
- Estrogen - Schernhammer ES, Giobbie-Hurder A, Gantman K, Savoie J, Scheib R, Parker LM, Chen WYA randomized controlled trial of oral melatonin supplementation and breast cancer biomarkersCancer Causes Control.(2012 Apr)
- Breast Cancer Risk - Crew KD, Gammon MD, Steck SE, Hershman DL, Cremers S, Dworakowski E, Shane E, Terry MB, Desai M, Teitelbaum SL, Neugut AI, Santella RMAssociation between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and breast cancer riskCancer Prev Res (Phila).(2009 Jun)
- Breast Cancer Risk - Garland CF, Gorham ED, Mohr SB, Grant WB, Giovannucci EL, Lipkin M, Newmark H, Holick MF, Garland FCVitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: pooled analysisJ Steroid Biochem Mol Biol.(2007 Mar)
- Aromatase-Inhibitor Related Joint Pain - Qamar J Khan, Pavan S Reddy, Bruce F Kimler, Priyanka Sharma, Susan E Baxa, Anne P O'Dea, Jennifer R Klemp, Carol J FabianEffect of vitamin D supplementation on serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels, joint pain, and fatigue in women starting adjuvant letrozole treatment for breast cancerBreast Cancer Res Treat.(2010 Jan)
- Breast Cancer Risk - Schwingshackl, L., et al.Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Cancer: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisNutrients.(2017-09-26)
- Body Mass Index (BMI) - Chen G, Leary S, Niu J, Perry R, Papadaki AThe Role of the Mediterranean Diet in Breast Cancer Survivorship: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies and Randomised Controlled Trials.Nutrients.(2023-Apr-27)
- DNA methylation - Zhu W, Qin W, Zhang K, Rottinghaus GE, Chen YC, Kliethermes B, Sauter ERTrans-resveratrol alters mammary promoter hypermethylation in women at increased risk for breast cancerNutr Cancer.(2012 Apr)
- Menopausal Symptoms - Atkinson C, Warren RM, Sala E, Dowsett M, Dunning AM, Healey CS, Runswick S, Day NE, Bingham SARed-clover-derived isoflavones and mammographic breast density: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial ISRCTN42940165Breast Cancer Res.(2004)
- Menopausal Symptoms - Matthias Rostock, Julia Fischer, Andreas Mumm, Ute Stammwitz, Reinhard Saller, Hans Helge BartschBlack cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients with climacteric complaints - a prospective observational studyGynecol Endocrinol.(2011 Oct)
- Menopausal Symptoms - Jacobson JS, Troxel AB, Evans J, Klaus L, Vahdat L, Kinne D, Lo KM, Moore A, Rosenman PJ, Kaufman EL, Neugut AI, Grann VRRandomized trial of black cohosh for the treatment of hot flashes among women with a history of breast cancerJ Clin Oncol.(2001 May 15)
- Breast Density - E Lundström, A L Hirschberg, G SöderqvistDigitized assessment of mammographic breast density--effects of continuous combined hormone therapy, tibolone and black cohosh compared to placeboMaturitas.(2011 Dec)
- Menopausal Symptoms - Ma H, Sullivan-Halley J, Smith AW, Neuhouser ML, Alfano CM, Meeske K, George SM, McTiernan A, McKean-Cowdin R, Baumgartner KB, Ballard-Barbash R, Bernstein LEstrogenic botanical supplements, health-related quality of life, fatigue, and hormone-related symptoms in breast cancer survivors: a HEAL study reportBMC Complement Altern Med.(2011 Nov 8)
- Estrogen - Ikuko Kijima, Sheryl Phung, Gene Hur, Sum-Ling Kwok, Shiuan ChenGrape seed extract is an aromatase inhibitor and a suppressor of aromatase expressionCancer Res.(2006 Jun 1)
- Depression Symptoms - Sue Gessler, Michael King, Alessandra Lemma, Julie Barber, Louise Jones, Susan Dunning, Val Madden, Stephen Pilling, Rachael Hunter, Peter Fonagy, Karen Summerville, Nicola MacDonald, Adeola Olaitan, Anne LanceleyStepped approach to improving sexual function after gynaecological cancer: the SAFFRON feasibility RCTHealth Technol Assess.(2019 Feb)
- Depression Symptoms - Zhao H, Zhang Q, Zhao L, Huang X, Wang J, Kang XSpore Powder of Ganoderma lucidum Improves Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Pilot Clinical TrialEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
- Depression Symptoms - Lin G, Yang L, Wang Y, Lin R, Huang B, Sheng X, Wu X, Cao ZThe Efficacy of Laughter Therapy on Psychological Symptoms in People With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies.Psychooncology.(2024 Oct 20)
- Anxiety Symptoms - Henderson VP, Clemow L, Massion AO, Hurley TG, Druker S, Hébert JRThe effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychosocial outcomes and quality of life in early-stage breast cancer patients: a randomized trialBreast Cancer Res Treat.(2012 Jan)
- Natural Killer Cell Activity - Torkelson CJ, Sweet E, Martzen MR, Sasagawa M, Wenner CA, Gay J, Putiri A, Standish LJPhase 1 Clinical Trial of Trametes versicolor in Women with Breast CancerISRN Oncol.(2012)
- IGF-1 - Amanollahi A, Khazdouz M, Malekahmadi M, Klement RJ, Lee D, Khodabakhshi AEffect of Ketogenic Diets on Cardio-Metabolic Outcomes in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Clinical Trials.Nutr Cancer.(2023)
- Weight - Marzieh Taftian, Sara Beigrezaei, Vahid Arabi, Amin Salehi-AbargoueiThe Effect of Ketogenic Diet on Weight Loss in Adult Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Clinical TrialsNutr Cancer.(2022 Feb 7)
- Dermatitis Risk - Sharp L, Finnilä K, Johansson H, Abrahamsson M, Hatschek T, Bergenmar MNo differences between Calendula cream and aqueous cream in the prevention of acute radiation skin reactions--results from a randomised blinded trial.Eur J Oncol Nurs.(2013-Aug)
- Dermatitis Risk - Pommier P, Gomez F, Sunyach MP, D'Hombres A, Carrie C, Montbarbon XPhase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer.J Clin Oncol.(2004-Apr-15)
- Dermatitis Risk - De Angelis C, Di Stadio A, Vitale S, Saccone G, Angelis MC, Zizolfi B, Di Spiezio Sardo AUse of calendula ointment after episiotomy: a randomized clinical trial.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med.(2022-May)