Being a Woman is the Biggest Risk for Contracting Breast Cancer

By Vera Viner

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in this country. According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, more than 232,000 women are diagnosed with this disease every year in the United States alone. Approximately, 40,000 Americans die each year from this dreadful disease. The only cancer more common is prostate cancer, but the mortality rate for this medical condition is approximately 10,000 patients less than that of breast cancer.

A major reason that breast cancer is so common is due to the biological processes of the breast throughout a woman’s life. After all, the biggest risk for contracting breast cancer is to be born a woman. Dr. Marisa Weiss, a practicing oncologist with 25 years experience, wrote for the Huffington Post about why the breast is more susceptible to tumors than other organs in the body.

The development of the breast gland takes much longer than other organs within the human body, which means that every time bits of DNA are introduced into newly formed breast cells, genetic mutations can form and disrupt the common development of this gland.

Evolution has also played a role in how hormones affect the breast. Feeding offspring is a huge boost for the survival of the human species, evolutionarily speaking. This is why estrogen is able to impact estrogen receptors to tell breast cells to start growing – whether it is during puberty or pregnancy. All of this shows exactly why Hormone Replacement Therapy is dangerous for women – such hormones may tell women’s glands to start growing during menopause, possibly creating a dangerous, cancerous environment.

In today’s modern world, evolutionary processes have led women to become more susceptible to breast cancer. Because estrogen receptors are able to interact with substances that are similar to estrogen in shape, smell, or taste, women’s breasts are more vulnerable to contracting cancer from various chemicals, plastics, pollution, and sugars/junk foods. Bisphenols found in plastics, prescription drugs in the form of birth control pills or HRT, flame retardants, and other chemicals all pose danger to human survival.

While our bodies have not evolved quickly enough to counter the effects we have put upon ourselves in the modern world, it is up to women everywhere to protect each other from these dangerous chemicals. Breast cancer prevention is of the utmost importance and we need to avoid bisphenols, Hormone Replacement Therapy, birth control pills, cigarettes, additives or sugars, and excessive alcohol. In addition, we must maintain a healthy plant-based diet, exercise regularly, and remain at a healthy weight. While our own biological processes and evolutionary strategies may push us closer to contracting breast cancer, there are various steps we need to take to prevent this disease.