Breast cancer is a very common type of cancer among women affecting people across the globe. While the exact cause of breast cancer is not known, several risk factors are known to increase the probability of cancer diagnosis in women. Common causes like age of over 50 years and being a woman are common causes that many people know about. However, there are many important breast cancer risk factors or causes that are not known among most people.

These hidden causes are modifiable risks, and if you take preventative measures to keep these risk factors in check, it can help you prevent breast cancer and reduce your risk of the condition. So, what are these hidden breast cancer causes, and how prevalent are they? Let’s answer both these questions and get a thorough understanding of breast cancer and its effects on human health.

Hidden Breast Cancer Causes That Are Often Overlooked
 

Hormonal Imbalance & The Impact of Chronic Stress

The endocrine system is one of the most important organ systems in the body, and it is not discussed enough when it comes to cancer risk. Similarly, chronic stress and its impacts on health are not commonly discussed as a risk factor for cancer. However, both these factors play a very important role in managing your breast cancer risk. There are three things that happen with chronic stress and hormonal imbalances that have the potential to increase your risk of cancer. The three things include suppression of the immunological responses in your body, chronic inflammation, and hormonal changes. Let’s take a detailed look at how these effects impact your health.

• Immunological Suppression: Chronic stress makes it difficult for your body to relax. It keeps your body in a constant fight or flight mode, which leads to an excess amount of cortisol hormone in your body. Over time, the inability to relax has an impact on your immune system as without adequate rest, the immune system gets weaker over time. It makes your body more vulnerable to infections and diseases. This immunological suppression can be managed by treating chronic stress.
   
• Chronic Inflammation: Inflammation is one of the effects of stress. Untreated stress has the potential to cause inflammation, which in turn can lead to DNA damage and an increased risk of tumour formation in the body. A higher risk of tumours increases the risk of different types of cancer, including breast cancer.
   
• Hormonal Changes: Stress leads to a higher level of cortisol hormone in your body. A higher level of cortisol often leads to a higher level of oestrogen hormone in women. Higher levels of oestrogen hormone in the body are known to increase the risk of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. It is crucial to keep chronic stress in check and get the required medical help to ensure you are safe against the cancer risk factors mentioned above.

Environmental Exposure To Harmful Chemicals

There are many chemicals and environmental pollutants that people are exposed to every day, which have the potential to increase their cancer risk. These chemicals or environmental toxins are often known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals or EDCs. These toxins can interfere with the functioning of the endocrine system and increase the risk of certain types of cancer, including breast cancer. Oestrogen is one of the most crucial hormones when it comes to breast cancer risk, and there are several EDCs which can impact oestrogen regulation. Here’s a closer look at the different EDCs that people should be aware of.

• Air Pollutants: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs are one of the most important air pollutants that are linked with an increased risk of breast cancer. PAHs are released due to the burning of fossil fuels and are known to cause cellular damage, which can increase the cancer risk of people when exposed to it for a long time.
   
• Bisphenol A (BPA): It is a very common chemical found in plastics that are used to make containers and other packaging materials. The chemical BPA can mimic oestrogen in the human body, which has the potential to increase your risk of breast cancer. As mentioned earlier, an increased level of oestrogen in the body increases the risk of certain subtypes of breast cancer.
   
• Pesticide Residue: Agricultural products require the use of pesticides and herbicides, which are very toxic to human beings. There are many pesticides that are classified as carcinogens, such as glyphosate. As food items are made from produce that’s harvested, it is possible for trace amounts of these pesticides and herbicides to be present in the food you consume. Exposure to these elements over time can significantly increase your risk of breast cancer.
   
• Parabens and Phthalates: Similar to BPA, chemicals like paraben and phthalates also mimic oestrogen in the body and can increase the risk of breast cancer. While other chemicals are now readily banned and removed from use as much as possible. Paraben is still commonly used in personal care products and makeup items. Common everyday items like shampoos, makeup products, skincare products, and lotions may contain paraben, which has the potential to disrupt the hormonal balance of your body. Long-term exposure to these chemicals can significantly increase your cancer risk.

Crucial Genetic Mutations

When it comes to genetic mutations and breast cancer risk, most people commonly know about the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which are directly linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. However, further studies have found there are other genetic mutations and factors that can potentially increase someone’s risk of breast cancer. Here are some of the newfound genetic mutations and other genetic factors that can increase a person's cancer risk.

• PALB2 and CHEK2 Mutations: Medical research has identified these two genetic mutations as well as their role in contributing to a higher risk of breast cancer. These genetic risks are generally not studied when a patient opts for genetic testing, thus creating an incomplete picture of their genetic predisposition for breast cancer. This type of genetic testing is only recommended for patients who have a strong family history of breast cancer. So, it is crucial that patients also go through these additional genetic tests to understand the risk of breast cancer better.
   
• Epigenetic Changes: Epigenetic changes refer to certain lifestyle factors, chronic stress, and toxin exposure that cause a change in the genes without the alteration of the DNA sequence itself. These changes can increase a person’s risk of breast cancer significantly, even if they don’t have any family history of the disease. Epigenetic changes tie in with environmental exposure to harmful chemicals and the impact of chronic stress on your health. These effects must be discussed with your doctors to get a complete picture of your breast cancer risk.

Disruption of Circadian Rhythm

The circadian rhythm is referred to as the body’s sleep cycle. Getting adequate rest during the night is crucial for the body to function optimally. Improper sleep, staying up at night, and not getting quality sleep can impact your body’s immune system. The disruption of the circadian rhythm can be caused by a number of factors, including being exposed to light at night or having to work at night. Women who have to work night shifts are at a higher risk of breast cancer because it changes their circadian rhythm and creates excess cortisol hormone in the body. Working at night and being exposed to lights also affects the level of melatonin in your body, which regulates your circadian rhythm. Not sleeping at night can cause the melatonin levels in your body to drop, which can lead to an increase in oestrogen levels in the body. Adequate melatonin levels in the body can help regulate the oestrogen levels as well, so it is crucial to get proper sleep and get medical help if you are experiencing sleep problems.

Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle factors are commonly discussed among breast cancer causes, as habits like smoking and drinking alcohol are known risk factors for breast cancer. However, some of the lesser-known lifestyle factors that involuntarily lead to an increased risk of breast cancer are related to your diet. Food adulteration, as well as dietary exposure to antibiotics and hormones, have the potential to increase your cancer risk. Animal farming uses a lot of hormones and antibiotics to manufacture the required quantity of products. Any animal food item has the potential to have trace amounts of hormones and other additives which can impact your health. Long-term exposure to these adulterants can increase your risk of breast cancer. This is why it is crucial to choose organically farmed animal products or to eliminate them from your diet entirely to keep your cancer risk in check.

Conclusion

The risk factors listed above are known to be important contributors among breast cancer causes. All these factors do not cause cancer in a day, but slow and continuous exposure to these factors can potentially increase your cancer risk significantly, especially if you have a family history of the condition. So, to ensure you can manage your cancer risk and to prevent the condition, feel free to visit our experts today at MASSH. 

We specialise in minimally invasive surgical treatments for breast cancer that are safe and have low risks and quick recovery. Our highly specialised surgical infrastructure and a team of experienced surgeons can help you effectively treat breast cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence. Check out our website and request a callback today to learn more about breast cancer treatment at MASSH.