Jakarta (ANTARA) – A study found that women who became pregnant for the first time at an older age had a higher long-term risk of developing breast cancer than those who became mothers at a younger age.
The study, as published by Medical Daily, Friday (8/9), shows that women who have their first pregnancy under the age of 24 have a much lower long-term risk of breast cancer, namely around 20 – 35 percent compared to women who have not had children.
However, as women become mothers who become mothers for the first time, the risk of developing breast cancer increases with a risk jump of 5 percent every five years.
“In recent decades, women have started having children later due to social changes and personal preferences. Previous studies have found that this is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer,” said lead study author Dr. Biancastella Cereser.
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To arrive at the findings of the study, published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers analyzed the cellular and genetic changes that occur in healthy breast cells when they turn cancerous. After sequencing 29 frozen healthy breast tissues from donors, the team found that as they age, the healthy breast tissue accumulates mutations, at a rate of about 15 mutations each year.
Although most mutations do not affect genes and do not cause cancer, as time goes by, there is a greater chance of triggering mutations associated with cancer.
According to Cereser and the team, this may not be enough to cause cancer by itself. However, pregnancy can do double damage because it induces rapid expansion of breast cells in preparation for breastfeeding.
“It has the potential to cause uncontrolled effects, and ultimately create cancerous tumors,” Cereser said.
He said human breasts, like other organs, experience an accumulation of mutations as they age, however, pregnancy also has additional effects. This, he continued, means that older mothers who are giving birth for the first time may have a higher risk.
“Older mothers may have a greater chance of experiencing harmful changes in breast cells compared with other women,” Cereser said.
Also read: Reviewing risk factors, symptoms and treatment of breast cancer
Also read: Why are women who have never been pregnant at risk of developing breast cancer?
Also read: Regular consumption of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of cancer
2023-09-08 23:11:23
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