Dr. Pierrete Kaw, a breast surgeon at The Medical City, explained on Thursday's episode of the radio show "Magandang Gabi Dok" the different risk factors for breast cancer.
The risk factors are age of menstruation and menopause, weight, and family history.
Women who first had their menstruation younger than 12 years old or those who still have their period over the age of 55 have a higher risk of breast cancer.
Women who are overweight and those who often eat fatty food are also at high risk of the disease.
Kaw said prolonged exposure to estrogen can put women at higher risk of breast cancer.
"Yung mga pasyenteng hindi pa nabubuntis, exposed sa estrogen. Kapag kasi nabuntis, may ibang hormone, 'yung progesterone. Increased exposure to estrogen increases the risk," Kaw added.
Taking oral contraceptives and hormonal replacement pills continuously for at least 5 years also put women at higher risk of breast cancer.
"If you take pills, pwedeng putol-putol ang pag-inom. Mas maganda kung putol-putol, lalo na kung may family history [ng breast cancer]," Kaw advised.
The doctor also advised women to do a self-examination of the breast at least once a month.
"At the age of 20, dapat nagche-check na tayo ng sariling suso," Kaw said.
The self-examination should be done from the 7th to the 10th day after the period.
What to watch out for
Symptoms of breast cancer include painless lumps that grow in size, wounds and discoloration on the skin on the breast, blood on the nipples, and other skin abnormalities.
Breast lumps are usually hard to the touch, and are not painful.
However, Kaw clarified that not all lumps are signs of cancer.
"Kung may kinalaman sa period, kapag nawala ang period, nawawala yung bukol o 'yung pain," she added.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
