October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – an opportunity for reps to remind their customers to educate patients.
This year alone, the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer, and about 61,000 cases of non-invasive breast cancer – or carcinoma in situ (CIS) – will be diagnosed in women. About 40,450 women are expected to die of breast cancer by the end of the year. Although men, too, can get breast cancer, the disease is about 100 times more common in women than men.
The numbers are sobering. However, by educating themselves about the disease – and by reminding physician customers to educate their patients – sales reps can do their part to help turn these numbers around.
The risk factors
Although it’s important to be aware of the risk factors associated with breast cancer, in some cases they can’t be changed, Furthermore, some women with one or more risk factors never develop breast cancer, while others with no known risk factors (other than being a woman and growing older) do.
The main risk factors for breast cancer – being a woman, getting older and certain gene changes – are things that can’t be changed, according to the American Cancer Society. Certain female hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, are believed to promote breast cancer cell growth. And, most invasive breast cancers (those that have spread) are found in women age 55 and older. In addition, about 5-10 percent of breast cancer cases are thought to result directly from gene defects, or mutations, which are passed on from a parent. The most common cause of hereditary breast cancer is an inherited mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. In normal cells, these genes help prevent cancer by making proteins that help keep the cells from growing abnormally, according to the American Cancer Society. Mutated versions of these genes are unable to stop abnormal growth, which in turn can lead to cancer. While other gene mutations can also lead to inherited breast cancers, they are much less common and most do not increase the risk of breast cancer as much as the BRCA genes.
Other factors that increase the risk of women developing breast cancer include the following, according to the American Cancer Society:
- Having a family history. About 80 percent of women who get breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease. However, those who have close relatives with breast cancer have a higher risk of the disease. Having a first-degree relative, such as a mother, sister or daughter, with breast cancer almost doubles a woman’s risk. Having two first-degree relatives with breast cancer can increase her risk about threefold. That said, less than 15 percent of women with breast cancer have a family member with this disease.
- Having a personal history of breast cancer.
- Race or ethnicity. Overall, white women are more likely to develop breast cancer than African American women. However, African American women are more likely to die of this cancer. Asian, Hispanic and Native American women have a lower risk of developing breast cancer and dying from it.
- Certain benign conditions and proliferative lesions without cell abnormalities.
In addition, heavy alcohol consumption, being overweight or obese, and certain forms of hormone therapy also can increase women’s risk of breast cancer. Conversely, there is growing evidence that exercise can reduce the risk. However, it’s unclear how much exercise is necessary.
For more information visit http://www.cancer.org/search/index?QueryText=breast+cancer&Page=1.