The combination of genetic and environmental factors that may lead to the development of cancer. By browsing, we can emphasize the importance of scientifically established factors, or those who are the subject of considerable controversy.

Age, genetic factors and family history

Breast cancer can occur at any age, her risk of occurrence increases with age. It doubles roughly every 10 years until menopause. In addition, it continues to increase.

If multiple cases of breast cancer are already known in your family, it can increase your own chance of developing the disease. In developed countries, between 5 and 10% of cases are linked to genetic predisposition. This is equivalent annually in world in 1 700 to 3 400 cases.

Specifically, the risk of cancer is twice as high among women whose close relatives (sisters, mothers or daughters) have developed breast cancer before age 50. The younger age of onset, the greater the danger is great. Thus, a woman whose sister developed cancer at the age of 30-39 years has a cumulative risk of 10% of itself be affected before 65 years, but this risk falls to 5% if her sister was aged 50-54 years at diagnosis. The risk also increases when more relatives are affected. A woman with two relatives with breast cancer including one aged under 50 at diagnosis is 25% risk of developing cancer before 65 years.

The origin of this danger, we found some genes, the best known are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 (for Breast Cancer which means breast cancer). These forms are alone responsible for 95% of familial forms of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, and 65% of familial breast cancer alone. But other predisposing genes for breast cancer were identified.

Specifically, if multiple cases of breast cancer in your family you are afraid of a genetic predisposition, talk to your doctor or your gynecologist. This may if necessary refer you to one consultations oncogenetic (genetics applied to oncology).

Puberty, pregnancy, lactation and menopause

Precocious puberty and late menopause increase the susceptibility to be affected by cancer sein3. A woman whose menopause happens naturally after age 55 are twice as likely as women affected by menopause before age 45.

The absence of pregnancy or a late age for first child can increase the chances of being affected by this tumor. Having your first child after age 30 doubles the risk of breast cancer compared to women become mothers before age 20. The increased risk is greater for women over 35 years during their first pregnancy, it is even higher than women without children. A young age at the second child also reduces the likelihood of getting sick. Breastfeeding also has a protective role vis-à-vis the onset of breast cancer before menopause.

Endometriosis is a common disease (there are more than 1 million cases in the U.S. alone), which can affect any woman of childbearing age, since the first menstruation or menarche to menopause, but sometimes lasts until after the menopause.

The disease impairs quality of life of women with the disease, their relationships, family and even work. His symptoms characterizing mainly by what is known as the three Ds: Dysmenorrheal,
dyspareunia (painful intercourse) and more commonly, pelvic pain, especially in the lower abdomen, in the lower back and pelvis itself. There may also be hyper menorrhea or very abundant menstrual bleeding and even inter-menstrual.

For these women at once becomes difficult or impossible to become pregnant, and often have intestinal disorders including diarrhea, constipation, painful bowel movements or cramps. And feel tired.

Achieving determine the diagnosis for endometriosis is difficult, hence the need to perform one or more tests, including a pelvic ultrasound or MRI. Laparoscopy may be necessary to review the bodies inside and view any or entopic endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Laparoscopy shows the location and extent of endometrial lesions, which are then biopsies.

There is evidence that women with this disease are more likely than other women to suffer immune system disorders in which the body attacks its own tissues (autoimmune diseases) and that women with endometriosis are also more likely to suffer fatigue syndrome chronic fibromyalgia.

Endometriosis can not be cured by medicine. However, there are many treatments, each with advantages and disadvantages.

For women with mild symptoms may not need treatment other than pain medications or analgesics. According to doctors, if they wish to become pregnant (although it depends on the age and the amount of pain), the ideal is to maintain a test season (from 6 months to a year) having unprotected sex. If pregnancy does not occur, the chances are you need more treatment .Las they want no family can then be treated with hormones, which is effective when tumors are small. There are several options in this regard, including a combination of estrogen and progesterone, birth control pills, progesterone alone, and agonists of gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

Birth control pills control the growth of the endometrial and often decrease the amount of menstrual flow. These are contender two hormones, a progestin and an estrogen.

GnRH agonists (used daily nasal spray or injection applied as monthly or quarterly) prevent the body from making certain hormones to prevent menstruation. And without menstruation, the growth of endometriosis is reduced or halted. Side effects, however, are hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia, headache, depression, osteoporosis and vaginal dryness. Administration is recommended for about six months after that, resume menses and pregnancy could occur.

Usually, surgery is the best option for women with extensive endometriosis, or suffering great pain. Some are major and minor. With laparoscopy, for example, tumors are removed and the scar tissue or destroyed with intense heat and close the blood vessels without stitches. The idea is to treat the endometriosis without harming healthy tissue around it. Recovery is rapid.

The latest resources for treating the disease are laparoscopy, major surgery that removes the endometriosis, and hysterectomy, which can be removed the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. That yes, undergoing surgical procedures can not guarantee that the disease does not recur or that the pain is removed completely.

It is normal for the patient with endometriosis at first feel emotions like sadness, fear, anger, confusion or loneliness, and above all, uncertainty. Therefore it is important to get support from your partner, family and friends and learn all you can about the disease. Sometimes groups are useful for treatment and support will be essential to do relaxation exercises, particularly during periods of acute pain.