Analysis of Menopausal Breast Cancer - Assignment Example

The women’s risk of getting breast cancer is said to increase by 35-50% (Gøtzsche and Nielsen, 2011). Another risk factor has to do with lack of activity. In this, there continue to be variable rates of increase in risk. The main issue however remains that activeness is very necessary for all women to ensure that they are kept safe from the risk factor of inactiveness. The third major lifestyle-related risk factor is the use of oral contraceptives, where premenopausal breast cancer is said to be the most likely in this situation (Wallace, 2012). This means that the onset of breast cancer with the use of oral contraceptives is very high compared to the rate of onset for other risk factors (Gøtzsche and Nielsen, 2011). The last risk factor under lifestyle is diet, where high fat and high alcohol intake have been noted to be major risks.

In terms of genetic risk factors, Nelson, Smith, Griffin, and Fu (2013) mentioned that there are genetic susceptibility plays a minor part in some cases of breast cancer. The causes of breast cancer as associated with genetics have however been quoted to be less than 10% in most cases. The average range has often been given as 5% to 10% with variations occurring, depending on the number of relatives in the situation. Gøtzsche and Nielsen (2011) stressed that the probable rate of cause for people with 0, 1, and 2 relatives with the disease is 7.8%, 13.3%, and 21.1% respectively.

Some women have been found to develop hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome as a result of genetics but the rate given in this instance is only 5%. On medical conditions as a risk factor, Nelson, Smith, Griffin, and Fu (2013) mentioned that some diseases increase the risk of women getting breast cancer. A typical example of this has been mentioned to be diabetes mellitus. What is more, fibrocystic breast is common among those with benign breast conditions. The consequential condition leading to breast cancer for women like this is the onset of atypical ductal hyperplasia.

There have been several interventions that have been put in place in dealing with women’s health, especially the treatment of menopause. One of the interventions is what has been carried out by the Women’s Health Initiative. The result of the initiative, which focused on hormone therapy (HT) in menopausal women has changed so many ways in which treatment of menopause is done. The first of these has to do with changes in the clinical thinking on estrogen therapy and its role in curbing the situation without the need for any dramatic medical sessions (Women's Health Initiative Study Group, 1998).

What is more, the result of the initiative, which took place as the only randomized, double-blind trial of estrogen therapy, has shifted attention very much to disease prevention in menopausal women. Until this result, which can well be described as a breakthrough was found; greater portions of treatment of menopause in women focused on the use of medicines. This was because there was thinking that the situation was simply uncontrollable. This has however changed with more secondary prevention that is even focusing on coronary artery disease in addition to other common conditions like breast cancer (Women's Health Initiative Study Group, 1998). Read More