Epidemiología del cáncer de mama

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is an important health, social and economic problem. BC is the most common malignant tumor in women in high-income countries. Although BC mortality has decreased in recent years thanks to the development of screening programs and improved treatments, BC remains the leading cause of cancer death in high-income countries. There are several risk factors clearly related to the risk of BC. Factors such as age, genetic predisposition, family history, benign breast pathology or mammographic density are not modifiable. However, other factors such as obesity in postmenopausal women or the use of combined hormone replacement therapy could be modifiable, in addition to promoting habits related to the reduction of BC risk. Physical exercise, especially in postmenopausal women, and breastfeeding are factors clearly related to the reduction of BC risk. Improving knowledge of modifiable risk factors and factors that reduce the risk of BC is important to design strategies that decrease the incidence of this tumor.