Remarkable results have emerged from a recent study on breast cancer. It turns out that women with benign breast diseases have a higher risk of breast cancer than other women. Women diagnosed with ‘harmless’ lumps and swellings on their breasts are almost twice as likely to develop cancer. After these results, the researchers recommended that benign cysts and other diseases in the breast should be included in the symptoms of breast cancer.
ABORMALITIES MORE SUITABLE TO DEVELOP
Researchers believe that benign breast diseases, such as cysts and other noncancerous changes in breast tissue, highlight women who are more prone to developing abnormalities. Symptoms should be viewed as a warning sign, and those with other risk factors, such as a family history of breast cancer, should be offered more regular screening.
CLOSE TO 1 MILLION WOMEN WATCHED
The study included nearly 800,000 Hispanic women aged 50 to 69 who had participated in at least one breast screening between 1996 and 2015.
By 2017, 17,827 women were diagnosed with benign breast disease, and 11,708 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. In those with benign breast disease, about 25 out of every 1,000 people are later diagnosed with breast cancer, in this case 15 out of every 1,000 people who don’t have breast cancer. According to the findings, which will be presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference in Barcelona, an increased risk was found in women regardless of age and the risk persisted for at least 20 years.