Who gets breast cancer?
Breast cancer is more common among older women. The risk for getting breast cancer increases with age. More than three-quarters of women who get breast cancer are over the age of fifty. White women are more likely to get breast cancer than Black women. Also, women with high socioeconomic status (those whose family income is above average) are more likely to get breast cancer. Scientists believe this may be related to having their first child at an older age, fewer pregnancies, diet and possibly other factors shared by women in higher income groups.
Any woman can get breast cancer. Each year, about 185,000 women in the United States get breast cancer and about 44,000 die from it. You may be more likely to get breast cancer if you: • Have a mother or sister who had breast cancer. • Have inherited certain genes. These genes are more common in people with Jewish ancestors from Eastern Europe. • Had your first menstrual period before you were 12. • Stopped having periods after you were 50. • Never had children or had your first child when you were over 30. • Have had radiation treatments to your chest area. Also, the older you are, the more likely you are to get breast cancer. Remember, though, that one out of four women who get breast cancer don’t have any of these risks.
Despite the high profile cases of Pop stars in their twenties and thirties contracting the disease, the plain fact is that usually 80 per cent of all cancers come in the over 60 age group. Sadly, with ageing comes increased deficiency in cellular replication systems, more chances of genetic mistakes, reduced hormone levels and a build up of toxins. Breast cancer, however, has seen a gradual lowering of the age of diagnosis with approximately 40 per cent of diagnoses in women below the age of 65, and 60 per cent above that age. So there is more to this cancer than mere ageing. The breasts are made up of ducts connecting the nipples to glandular tissue containing the lobes. Some of the breast tissue extends into the armpit where lymph nodes are found. All this is surrounded by fat and here in lies some clues to cause. Fat is a wonderful solvent and will dissolve and hold all those chemicals, toxins and hormones (your own and ingested ones) that you really should be excreting. Being overw
