Treatment for breast cancer has always followed the route of abundant caution – surgical removal of lymph nodes from the armpit area, radical mastectomies involving the removal of muscle and underlying lymph nodes of both breasts and so on.

It may be however, that such radical and extensive treatment for breast cancer is unnecessary and that it may even have devastating psychological and physical consequences and outweigh any possible benefits.

The view is now shifting on what is advisable and what is effective treatment for breast cancer. Often the extent of treatment outweighs the possible benefits – less extreme surgery may often be required for a given instance of cancer.

Lumpectomy (which removes only a small part of the breast) could suffice instead of a mastectomy (where the entire breast is removed) and this could mean adequate treatment that is also less disfiguring and less traumatic for the breast cancer sufferer.

Sometimes radiation and drugs are adequate forms of treatment and surgery could be avoided; however many oncologists have stuck to older outdated procedures.

It is the instinct of many medical practitioners to follow the most aggressive of treatments, even when such aggressive treatment is not required; or where it may actually cause a significant amount of damage.

A new study has shown that women in the UK are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer because of unhealthy lifestyles, but this really could be true for any female demographic in the world.

The study conducted through data collected by the WHO, found that a lot of the 46 thousand cases of breast cancer detected in Britain each year, could in fact be avoided.

This is possible to do by the simple expedient of drinking less alcohol, eating more healthy food and taking more exercise.

According to Professor Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific adviser for the World Cancer Research Fund, who oversaw the study, those in high income countries are more at risk of breast cancer for several reasons – they are more likely to have sedentary lifestyles, be overweight and drink alcohol.

Countries such as UK and Denmark and other high income countries have a higher breast cancer risk, but this need not be the case – simple lifestyle changes can make very significant differences.

According to Sarah Woolnough, Cancer Research UK’s director of policy as many as 50% of cancers may be able to be prevented by lifestyle changes such as giving up smoking, lowering alcohol consumption and reducing weight by exercising more and eating healthy.

Breast cancer is the type of cancer that is felt by and large by women and the number of demises induced by this stands second equated to the demises in other types of cancer. Just 1% of men are troubled from this cancer installing the reality that this is altogether a women’s disease.

Hazards beyond control:

Gender and age are the decisive elements that could be causative for breast cancer; particularly when the women approach the age of 50 or more.

Genetic factors: It is presumed that the genetically agents account for the 5-10% of the breast cancers.

Dense bosom tissue: This situation besides attains matters tough in discovering breast troubles by mammograms.

Menstrual periods: Women bearing long span of flow beginning below the age of 11 and ceasing after achieving the age of 50-55 advances the probabilities of this cancer.

Life-style risk factors

Late maternity: Chances of breast cancer ascends with unfruitful women or women bearing babies after the age of 30. Gestation at early age and being pregnant several times brings down the number of menstrual cycles that brings down the chances of this disease.

Employment of contraceptives and hormone-replacement therapy: statistics show that the chance increases with women who are on oral contraceptives and the chance lessens with the discontinuance of the oral pills.

HRT after climacteric might increment the danger of breast cancer. If the discourse requires the replacement of both estrogen and progesterone, then the chance is higher equated to only estrogen replacement therapy.

Obesity and deficiency of drill: Being overweight and lacking physical workouts are causative factors in raising the chance of breast cancer, especially deposition of fats around the waistlines adding more to the risk.

Miscarriage, breast implants, high fat dieting, smoking and boozing are additional life-style agents that besides add to the hazards of this disease.