As of: February 6, 2024, 5:02 p.m
By: Natalie Hull-Deichsel
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In the early stages, breast cancer usually causes little discomfort or pain.
This makes it all the more important for women to pay attention to signs, especially on the left.
According to the
German Cancer Society,
breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in women, with over 70,000 findings per year.
If the disease is recognized and treated in time, it is usually curable - but over 17,000 women die every year due to the dreaded diagnosis of “breast cancer”.
It is all the more important to know risk factors, pay attention to possible symptoms and go to the gynecologist with your personal observations and take part in early detection examinations.
Doctors have also noticed an increased incidence of breast cancer in the left breast.
Breast cancer in women: Especially in the upper outer area and in the left breast
During a mammogram, the female breast can be examined for malignant tumors.
© Hannibal Hanschke/dpa
Most breast tumors in women occur in the upper outer area of the breast, with about 15 percent occurring in the inner upper area, the part of the breast that lies between the armpit and collarbone, according to the
German Cancer Society
.
The left breast is said to be more affected than the right.
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There are studies that show that cancer in the left breast can be more common and more aggressive.
Doctors still disagree about the reasons, but there are two assumptions:
Most breasts on every woman are not perfectly symmetrical, that is, usually the
left breast is slightly larger
than the right.
If there is more glandular tissue on one side, the risk of developing breast cancer there increases because the area over which breast cancer could develop is larger.
Incomplete breastfeeding
is considered another possible risk factor for the more frequent development of breast cancer in the left breast.
Many breastfeeding women may unintentionally prefer their right breast because it is easier to hold a baby with the "right-handed" arm.
This means that the right breast may be emptied more frequently and completely than the left breast, which could reduce the normal protective effect of breastfeeding on that side.
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We don't know why breastfeeding protects women from breast cancer, but it certainly seems to.
One study found that the risk of developing breast cancer decreases by 7 percent with each birth of a child.
And every 12 months that someone breastfeeds a baby, the risk drops by an additional 4.3 percent.
Giancarlo Moscol, assistant professor of general and gynecologic oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
What can women do to reduce their risk of left-sided breast cancer?
Know your personal risk of breast cancer by taking the risk check.
There are six risk factors you can positively influence or even avoid.
Pay attention to the anatomy, that is, whether the left and right breasts always feel the same.
Visit a gynecologist for recommended breast cancer screening.
If you discover a lump or bump that doesn't go away on its own within four weeks, see your gynecologist.
If you are breastfeeding, try to latch on to both breasts equally or pump evenly to empty both completely.
Breast cancer: Interpret symptoms and have them clarified early
Typical symptoms of developing breast cancer are:
Firm, non-movable
lumps in the breast
that can be felt from a size of about one to two centimeters
Conspicuous nipples
, retracted areas on the nipples, complete depression of the nipple, inflamed nipple with possible discharge, skin changes on the nipple
Sudden, noticeable
change in size of the breast
, different appearance of both breasts when lifting the arms
Skin abnormalities
such as large pores, “orange peel”, redness that does not go away or inflammation on the breast
Swelling in the armpit
, which may indicate lymph node metastases
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Every autumn, special attention is drawn to the disease and the situation of those affected by regional and nationwide activities highlighting the topic of breast cancer, its prevention, research and treatment.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.