Anthropological Aspect of Breast Cancer - Research Paper Example

Breast cancer (anthropological aspect) Introduction Breast cancer is one of the growing health problems in the United s. Fundamentally, breast cancer is a medical issue and mostly related to the field of medicine and health care. Since the United States is a land of diverse ethnic communities, other than medical causes, other socio-economic factors also contribute their presence in the growing number of breast cancer related cases. Primarily, Hispanic, Jewish, African, White, and Asian communities live in different states. They have been living for many years. Despite so many years of collective living, these communities still do not share similar trend especially in the breast cancer. However, as far as the medical reasons, especially the genetic background, the trend reflects largely the similar symptoms and number of patients. In contrast, other than medical reasons, causes of breast cancer and number of reported cases and prevalence of this disease in various ethnic communities are considerably different from one another. The reported cases highlight that the Jewish community remains the most affected and has been the victim of this disease when the statistics of this community is compared with the statistics of other communities. In the following parts of this paper, first breast cancer and its common symptoms, prevalence and general causes have been discussed. And before the conclusion part, prevalence of breast cancer in different ethnic communities along with their health and social causes have been highlighted and discussed as well. Cancer is a disease in which abnormal growth of cells takes place in body (McFarland and DipMedAc, 2013). And when this abnormal activity occurs in breasts, it is called breast cancer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). this disease does not uniformly affect every woman livening in the country but has different factors and socioeconomic and biological history play their part. Broadly speaking, White women are more affected than Hispanic, Black and members of ethnic and racial community (Edward et al., 2005). As a result, this point proves that there are other reasons that play their part for increasing the number of breast cancer patients. Figure 01: Female Breast Cancer: Incidence Rates by Race and Ethnicity, U.S., 1999-2011 Source: (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). This graph reflects breast cancer trend in a number of ethnic communities from 1999 to the end of 2011. The graph highlights female breast cancer incidence rate in different ethnic communities. The yellow line exhibits that at the start of 1999, there were only 140 cases per 100,000; consequently, the trend highlights that the number of breast cancer cases largely remains stable and going upward. As a result, it can be deduced that the White women remain the prime target of the breast cancer and over the reported period, the trend is resisting, highlighting that the prevention and treatment are failing to effectively control the disease instead the trend demonstrates that the disease is affecting more and more people. In other words, it can also be extracted that the measures to control the disease are failing to control the spread of this disease. On the other hand, the trend of breast cancer in the Black women is on the rise as well. In 1999, the incidence rate highlights 120 cases per 100,000. Over this period till the end of 2011, the tendency of breast cancer is increasing, reflecting that the disease of breast cancer is also rapidly spreading in the Black women as well. Additionally, the trend of breast cancer in American Indian/ Alaska Native, reflecting Al/AN, is declining over the reported period. At the start of this survey, around 100 cases were reported which continued to decrease till the end of 2010 when the reported cases were around 90. However, since then, the trend starts to increase, reflecting more and more women are being affected by this disease. The blue line, which represents Asian/Pacific Islanders, has also been increasing over the reported period. Throughout this highlighted period, the blue line has been showing a declining trend but an increasing one, reflecting that Asian and Pacific Islanders are not immune from the threat of breast cancer during this period. The worrying aspect is that the trend has less shown decline and has highlighted more upward tendency throughout this period. Based on this, it can be deduced that the Black women and the Asian women along with Pacific Islanders show some sort of similarity when it comes to pinpoint the historical trend of breast cancer in these ethnic communities. The breast cancer cases in the Hispanic community show a mixed trend over the reported period. For example, in 1999, the trend exhibits that 100 cases were reported; in 2004, the trend shows less than 100 cases but afterwards the trend reports 100 cases. Based on this situation, it can be extracted that the Hispanic community has been more careful about the breast cancer; at the same time, it also shows that this ethnic group is less vulnerable as the trend is somewhat mixed which is a sign of resistance from the community besides it also signifies that the community has been taking all those measures essential to prevent and detect the breast cancer on time. Overall trend of these communities is mixed as reflected by the green line in the figure 01. Figure 02: Female Breast Cancer: Death Rates by Race and Ethnicity, U.S., 1999-2011 Source: (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nod.). The actual damage of breast cancer can only be provided by the number of deaths over the mentioned period. Overall, the highest breast cancer deaths are reported by the Black women as they have 35 deaths per 100,000 in 1999. Over these years, the figure reflects that the trend is declining, reflecting that the death rate is being controlled by prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer in the reported ethnic community. However, the trend in American Indian and Alaska Native has been mixed throughout this period. The graph reflects more than 16 deaths in 1999, and around 10 deaths in 2002, and more than 15 deaths in 2005, showing that more and more members of this group die because of breast cancer. Overall, the trend reflected by lines is encouraging and a stable as well. This shows that the breast cancer deaths are not increasing but the efforts are being taken to control and decrease deaths by taking all sorts of necessary measures. BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 are genes found in humans; these genes generate tumor suppressor proteins which support helping damaged DNA, thereby, work as a stabilizer of cell’s genetic matter; however, in case of mutation or alteration when protein is either not made or function appropriately, which fails to repair damaged DNA; as a result, this situation leads to cancer (National Cancer Institute, 2014). Subsequently, this mutation, which is mostly transferred through human’s genetic disorder, leads to breast cancer and other forms of cancer found mostly in females (National Cancer Institute, 2014). Figure 03: BRCA 1 Mutation in Different Communities Source: (Esther et al., 2007). The figure 03 remains the most important source for highlighting the presence of breast cancer in different ethnic communities livening in the United States. The graph exhibits that Hispanic community has the highest prevalence (i.e. 3.5 percent) in collective A and B category whereas African American and Asian American have 1.3 and 0.5 respectively. However, there are interesting results depicted by the figure 03. Patients below age of 35 have 8.9 percent prevalence rate in Hispanic whereas in the same bracket, African American and Asian American have 16.7 and 2.4 respectively. This shows that the African American are more prone to BRCA 1 breast cancer mutation especially those who are under the age of 35. In this regard, it is important to highlight that the African American are comparatively considered to be less economically stable and prosperous. Insufficient access to the basic health care facilities, inadequate education, limited employment opportunities are those certain factors that contribute their presence in the high level of BRCA 1 mutation. In this regard, it is important to mention that insufficient health care information and access are those causes that have direct effect on the mental, physical and psychological wellbeing. At the same time, insufficient tendency about awareness relating to health is also playing its role in these communities. At the same time, till this point of time, race and racial divide is largely found in the United States. The recent incident of Ferguson is one stark reminder of the recent tension between different ethnic communities in the country. More clearly, the difference and divide in the form of class segregation are largely visible in the society. For example, the White are considered to be more educated, having adequate access to the basic necessities as they have been living prior to the coming of the African people to this country. At the same time, it is also important to signify that the African community took time while settling and accommodating with the local condition. Additionally, the African community, like other communities, such as Asian, came as an economic migrants looking for work and better access to basic human needs. As a result, they have been struggling for better economic conditions and opportunities. And this effect is largely visible in the figure 3 in which African American women are largely exposed to the breast cancer, which is mainly contributed by these socio-economic factors. On the other hand, it is clearly visible that in the subsequent age brackets, the percentage of breast cancer in African American and Asian American women are constantly decreasing and this decrease is larger than the decrease reported in the Hispanic community. In other words, it can also be deduced that the patients in the age bracket of 35-49 in the Hispanic origin are more prone to the breast cancer. In this regard, it is important to mention that they comparatively have more access to the basic needs and better living conditions, strong purchasing power which reflects their economic stability. In this regard, it is pertinent to highlight that in this age bracket, people generally have enough income and financial strength in the form of savings. And with the availability of the savings, they are in a position to treat all types of diseases by taking appropriate level of medication and medical services. The comparison between Ashkenazi and Non-Ashkenazi Jewish women reflects different situation. For example, the former have the highest prevalence of breast cancer whereas the latter have reported lesser cases of breast cancer. Based on this situation, it can be deduced that despite having strong financial stability and access to basic health care, Ashkenazi Jewish women are unable to reduce the presence of breast cancer. And this is mainly caused by the fact that the genetic heredity and its legacy cannot be changed or avoided under any condition. Moreover, they are culturally more educated and literate as well. However, even this social trait is insufficient to deter or the threat of the breast cancer. Genetic heredity remains the major health cause for the spread of breast cancer especially in White and Jewish women as reflected by the figure 3. In this regard, it is important to mention that the frequency of breast cancer in both the White and Jewish women is mainly caused by the presence of breast cancer and defected cells in their genes which transfer from parents to offspring. In other words, this type of transformation cannot be avoided as it is a part of genetic structure which is inbuilt to human cells. In the field of medicine, it is widely recognized and accepted that parents work as a carrier of many diseases if their diseases are found in their genes and it would be totally impossible to avoid this transfer as till this point of time, medical science has failed to provide any effective treatment and remedy which repair the defected cells and remove the defected part or material from the cells. However, it is still pertinent and relevant to highlight that certain treatments are available to prevent the frequency of mutation of defected cells. For example, BRCA 1 mutation, which is genetically inherited, remains the major cause leading to breast cancer; generally around 12 percent women face the problem of breast cancer during their lives (Holder et al., 2013). Additionally, there are other health causes behind the occurrence of breast cancer in these communities. Hamajima et al., (2002) provide a meta analysis of 53 studies relating to alcohol intake and breast cancer involving around 58,000 that the regular alcohol consumption of 45 grams per day increases the chances of breast cancer in women. Based on this report, it can be highlighted that alcohol has become a common luxury habit in many communities living in the United States; and till this point of time, the related statistics signifies that the alcohol consumption and tendency towards this activity is largely found in all ethnic groups. Additionally, the link between obesity and breast cancer has also been found (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Obesity has been defined as overweight; in this condition, human body fails to retain a standardized weight recommended by Body Mass Index (BMI). According this standard, every age bracket has pre-determined and suitable level for age and body weight. Thereby, in order to remain healthy and avoid falling in the group of obese people, it is highly essential that BMI standard should be followed. Breast cancer has both genetic and non-genetic reasons in different ethnic communities living in the United States. Generally speaking, around 12 percent of women are always face the threat of breast cancer. However, at the community level, this situation is considerably different. For example, the statics shows that the White women have more chances to develop breast cancer in comparison with the rest of the communities. More clearly, this threat becomes more real for Ashkenazi Jewish women who have the highest ratio of BRCA 1 breast cancer. This is mainly caused by the genetic heredity in this ethnic group. And due to this reason, it is highly difficult to avoid the spread of breast cancer in this community. Despite having more access to the basic health care and awareness and strong financial stability, this community has not been able to avoid the threat of breast cancer. On the other hand, in the list of non-genetic reasons, African American remains the most vulnerable to the BRCA 1 breast cancer. There are various social and health reasons. Fundamentally, this ethnic group is not economically sound, having limited access to the basic human needs, health care, education, employment and so on. And due to these factors, it is always not possible for them to avoid, treat and take other precautionary measures for avoiding the threat of breast cancer. References Centeres for Disease Control and Prevention, (n.d.). Breast Cancer. Retrieved: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/race.htm Edwards BK, Brown ML, Wingo PA, et al. (2005). Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2002, featuring population-based trends in cancer treatment. J National Cancer Inst. 97: 1407–1427 John, M.E., Miron, A., et al., (2007). Prevalence of Pathogenic BRCA 1 Mutation Carriers in 5 US Racial/Ethnic Groups. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 298 (24), Retrieved: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=209862 Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, et al. (eds.). (2013) SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2010. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Retrieved June 24, 2013 McFarland, D., DiplMedAc, D.C. (2013). Holistic Cancer Solutions with Essential Oils. Ohio, OH: LULU Publishers. National Cancer Institute, (2012). Obesity and Cancer Risk. Retrieved: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/weight-activity/obesity-fact-sheet National Cancer Institute, (2013). Alcohol and Cancer Risk. Retrieved: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet Read More