🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Pre-cancerous Changes in Breast Cancer: It is impossible for normal cells to suddenly transform into cancer cells; instead, there is a gradual process from quantitative to qualitative change. Research shows that carcinogenesis is a proliferative process. If cell numbers increase without morphological changes, it is called simple hyperplasia. If both cell number and structural abnormalities exist, it is termed atypical hyperplasia. Moderate atypical hyperplasia carries a tendency toward cancer. When atypical hyperplasia progresses to late stage, cells exhibit marked abnormal morphology and structure, approaching cancer—this is known as a pre-cancerous lesion. Pre-cancerous lesions can follow three paths: progression to cancer, improvement with effective treatment, or remaining static—even until death without turning cancerous. Because the progression from pre-cancerous lesion to cancer takes a long time, this provides us with an opportunity to eliminate cancer risks.
2. Several factors may contribute to breast cancer:
(1) The exact cause of breast cancer remains unclear, but it is known to be associated with endocrine factors, genetics, viruses, immunity, environment, etc. Certain factors are closely linked to breast cancer development and are referred to as susceptibility factors. These include: individuals with a family history of breast cancer, especially if a biological mother or sister had breast cancer, particularly if onset occurred before menopause and was bilateral, significantly increasing genetic susceptibility. If a woman has breast cancer on one side, the contralateral breast is more prone to cancer than others. For example, if pathology shows lobular carcinoma in situ or multifocal cancer, the other breast is more likely to develop cancer. Women previously diagnosed with cystic breast hyperplasia, especially those with histologically confirmed active intraductal papilloma, are also at higher risk. Their risk is two to three times higher than average. Early menarche (<12 years), late menopause (>55 years), and prolonged menstrual duration exceeding 35 years. Late marriage, childlessness, or first full-term pregnancy after age 35. Married but childless, or having given birth but not breastfeeding. History of pleurisy or pneumothorax, or repeated X-ray chest examinations. Previous history of functional uterine bleeding or endometrial adenocarcinoma. Obese individuals, especially postmenopausal obesity or those with hypothyroidism. Immune deficiency or impaired immune function. Individuals with any of these factors should be especially vigilant about breast cancer.
(2) Reports indicate that women who frequently undergo induced abortion have a higher risk of breast cancer. Sudden termination of pregnancy after induced abortion severely impacts ovarian function, causing a sharp drop in hormones and abrupt cessation of breast growth, leading to glandular atrophy. This extreme physiological fluctuation is abnormal and may result in breast stagnation, causing lumps and various breast diseases, thereby increasing the risk of breast cancer. Therefore, repeated induced abortions are harmful to overall health and are linked to breast cancer development. Effective contraception should be practiced to avoid repeated induced abortions.
(3) Whether breast cancer is hereditary is a sensitive issue for families affected by it. Numerous facts confirm that breast cancer tends to cluster in families. Clinically, daughters of mothers with breast cancer are 2–3 times more likely to develop it than average women, and their onset age is typically about 10 years earlier. The concordance rate among sisters is even higher. If a mother has breast cancer and her sister also has it, then her daughter’s risk of developing breast cancer before age 40 is 40–50 times higher than that of women without a family history of breast disease. If the previous generation had bilateral breast cancer, the risk for descendants is three times higher than in families with unilateral breast cancer, and six to nine times higher than in the general population.
In reality, breast cancer is not directly inherited. High familial incidence results from indirect effects of human genetic factors on breast cancer development. Thus, what is passed down is not the tumor itself, but the susceptibility to tumor formation. On this foundation, influenced by environmental, dietary, psychological, hormonal, and other combined factors, individuals are more prone to tumor development than average people. In summary, breast cancer is not directly inherited, but indirect susceptibility exists and continues to be studied.
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