Team Herald
PANJIM: Highlighting the importance for a healthy lifestyle to help reduce the risk of any form of cancer, a renowned oncologist has allayed apprehensions that breast cancer risk is passed on from generation to generation.
“If there is a family history of breast cancer, it does not necessarily pass on to future generations. The chances are very low. In a general case, the risk of breast cancer is about one in 16, which doubles to 2 in 16 persons in case of family history. This means, 88 percent still don’t get breast cancer though any of their family member have/had suffered,” surgical oncologist Dr Mandar Nadkarni told a gathering during an awareness lecture on the subject on Saturday.
He stressed on research that found older women are at higher risk of breast cancer than younger women even as he advised them to follow the World Health Organization guidelines on carrying out regular breast self-examination after the age of 20 years.
In the hour-long session organized by the Goa Cancer Society, Dr Nadkarni also suggested following healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of cancer stating that women having early menstrual periods (below 12 years of age) and late menopause (after 55 years of age), late age of pregnancy (after 35 years of age), limited duration of breast feeding are some factors that attribute to higher risk of developing the cancer.
Similarly, increasing consumption of alcohol and dietary fats are the other risk factors. “The rural woman has a lower risk of breast cancer than those in the urban because of different way of living,” he said.
The doctor also said that men too face the risk of breast cancer.
