Does diabetes lead to breast cancer ?

Diabetes is diagnosed when the glucose level in the blood is high. The consumed food is broken down into glucose. The glucose, which enters the blood after the digestion of food, is the prime energy source for the cells. However, in the absence of insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells and the glucose level in the blood gets high. When the cells do not respond to the insulin properly, the glucose level in the blood increases as well. Diabetes affects the human body in several ways. Among the negative impacts of diabetes is the risk of breast cancer.

Diabetes

Types of diabetes

There are four types of diabetes and they are seen in particular ages.

Type 1 diabetes

The body produces very little insulin in type 1 diabetes. In some cases, the body is unable to produce any insulin. Children and adolescents are mainly diagnosed with this type of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes stops the body from making proper use of produce insulin. This type of diabetes is frequently observed in adults. Around 90 to 95% of diabetes falls in this category.

Prediabetes

In prediabetes, the glucose level in the blood is high but not as high to have diabetes. However, this can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is found in those pregnant women who didn’t have diabetes before becoming pregnant. This can create complications for the mother and newborn as well.

Does Diabetes leads to breast cancer

How does diabetes lead to breast cancer?

Among the above mentioned four types, type 1 diabetes can increase the risk of breast cancer. Diabetes increases the glucose level, insulin level, and inflammation. These factors can increase the chances of breast cancer as well.

  • The most commonly used medicines used to treat diabetes does not increase the risk of breast cancer. But long-acting insulin can increase the risk factors.
  • As mentioned earlier, type 2 diabetes prevents the accurate use of insulin. In this scenario, the high level of insulin causes hyperinsulinemia. This condition can lead to cancer as it stimulates cells’ growth.
  • Most of the people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight. The excess fat in the body produces a higher level of adipokines than average. The high level of adipokines can lead to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is often linked to breast cancer.
  • The risk of breast cancer increases from 20 to 27% in 50 years or older women being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

People having type 2 diabetes are more likely to get diagnosed at the last stage and therefore, face more difficulty in recovery. Type 2 diabetes is often linked with breast cancer, but the other three types of diabetes do not lead to the condition.

Few people know that breast cancer treatments can increase the risk of diabetes as well. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy can increase the glucose level in the blood. Both cancer and diabetes have negative impacts on health. Moreover, one condition can increase the risk factor for another. It is important to keep the glucose level in control for health reasons. Managing the glucose level during chemotherapy is essential as well. The best way to fight cancer is to start the treatment immediately after being diagnosed. Diagnosed individuals can get the proper treatment in breast cancer hospitals in Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata and other cities of India. These hospitals will take care of the glucose level during cancer treatment.

 

Watch the below Video :

Watch Dr. Niti Raizada, Director – Medical Oncology & Hemato-oncology, Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore, shed light on Breast Cancer and the importance of spreading awareness on the same.  #BeBreastAware  #FortisCancerInstitute

5 stages of breast cancer you must be aware of!

Cancer is a dreadful disease that involves abnormal cell growth with the possibility to seize or spread in other parts of the body. While there are a number of cancerous cells that affect a different part of the body of an individual, breast cancer is most common among women. Breast cancer causes the thickening and lumping of the breasts and also hampers the skin and nipples. It happens mainly due to genetic factors but lifestyle habits are also responsible. Every tumour in the breast is not carcinogenic but it is always better to get it checked. Breast cancer Treatment hospital in Bangalore will help you identify the lump and get the biopsy done. The stages of cancer are determined by the size of the tumour and its spreading across the lymph nodes and other body parts.

Stage 0

In this stage, the cancerous cells do not spread beyond the breast where it started growing. It is a non-invasive form of breast cancer. Stage zero breast cancer is also known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which means cancer growth remains in the milk ducts only. Early diagnosis in stage 0 breast cancer will prevent the spreading of cancerous growth in the body making cancer a noninvasive one. Fortis Hospital is one of the best cancer treatment hospital in bangalore with highly experienced team of cancer specialists.

Stage 1

The person having a stage 1 breast cancer means he has 2 centimetres (cm) or less sized tumour or clusters of cancerous cells of 2 millimetres (mm) diameter or both developing in the lymph nodes. The microscopic invasion may take place when cancerous growth has spread outside the milk duct lining or lobules. It would be classified as stage 1 breast cancer if the size of the cancer cells does not exceed 1mm.

Stage 2

Stage 2 breast cancer is invasive cancer where the size of the tumour lies between 2-5 cm in diameter or cancerous masses of 2 mm diameter spreading across the axillary lymph nodes near the breastbone.

Stage 3

In stage 3 breast cancer, the person will have a tumour of more than 5 cm in diameter along with a cluster of breast cancer cells in lymph nodes of  0.2–2 mm in diameter. The tumour of any size may spread along the chest wall or skin of the breast, which causes swelling or ulcer. If cancer spreads in the skin of the breast, it will be classified as inflammatory breast cancer in which the skin turns red, swollen and unnaturally warm.

Stage 4

The person having stage 4 breast cancer will not only have tumour or clusters of cancerous cells spreading across the adjacent lymph nodes, but also across distant lymph nodes and organs of the body. It is the most advanced stage of breast cancer. This form of breast cancer maybe recurrent, which means it has spread to other body parts.

Treatment of breast cancer

Stage 0 and 1 of breast cancers are a noninvasive form of cancer, which means microscopic instruments or tools are not inserted in the body. From stage 2 onwards it becomes an invasive one. In this stage, Breast cancer treatment becomes necessary in order to remove the cancerous growth from the body. The treatment involves Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, Targeted Therapy, Immunotherapy and Hormonal Therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

chemotheraphy in bangalore

radiation therapy in bangalore