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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffResearchers don't know exactly what triggers the abnormal cell growth that leads to DCIS. A number of factors may play a part, including:
- Genetics. Some genes are considered tumor suppressor genes. Two genes, called BRCA1 and BRCA2, are known to play a role in suppressing breast cancer. A mutated copy of these genes can run in families. If you inherit a BRCA gene mutation, you're at increased risk of breast cancer.
- Environmental factors. Exposure to radiation or to certain chemicals may cause an acquired gene mutation that increases your risk of cancer. Scientists aren't sure yet what causes the acquired gene changes that are linked to breast cancer.
- Hormonal exposure. Your total lifetime exposure to the hormones estrogen and progesterone appears to play a role in your risk of breast cancer. Women with a high total number of lifetime menstrual cycles — for example, who started menstruating early, entered menopause late or never had children — are at increased risk of breast cancer. Taking combined estrogen-progestin hormone replacement therapy after menopause also increases breast cancer risk.
- Diet and lifestyle. Researchers know that moderate alcohol use increases your risk of breast cancer. The amount of red meat in your diet also may play a role, along with other dietary factors that scientists are working to understand. Inadequate exercise and being overweight — particularly when weight gain happens after menopause — appear to increase the risk of cell changes that lead to breast cancer.
References
- What is breast cancer? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_breast_cancer_5.asp?sitearea=. Accessed May 7, 2009.
- Lagios MD. Breast ductal carcinoma in situ and microinvasive carcinoma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 7, 2009.
- Meisner ALW, et al. Breast disease: Benign and malignant. Medical Clinics of North America. 2008;92:1115.
- Do we know what causes breast cancer? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_Do_we_know_what_causes_breast_cancer_5.asp?rnav=cri. Accessed May 7, 2009.
- Costanza ME, et al. Epidemiology and risk factors for breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 7, 2009.
- The basics of DCIS. Breastcancer.org. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/dcis/basics.jsp. Accessed May 7, 2009.
- Can breast cancer be found early? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_Can_breast_cancer_be_found_early_5.asp?rnav=cri. Accessed May 7, 2009.
- Hulvat MC, et al. Multidisciplinary care for patients with breast cancer. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2009;89:133.
- How is breast cancer treated? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_of_stage_0_breast_cancer.asp?rnav=cri. Accessed May 7, 2009.
- The emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_4_1X_The_Emotional_Impact_of_A_Cancer_Diagnosis.asp?sitearea=MBC. Accessed May 7, 2009.
- What are the risk factors for breast cancer? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_risk_factors_for_breast_cancer_5.asp?rnav=cri. Accessed May 7, 2009.
