Beware! Coloring your hair can up chances of breast cancer

The use of hormonal contraceptives and hair dyes may give way to breast cancer risk.

Researcher Sanna Heikkinen from the University of Helsinki in Finland and Finnish Cancer Registry evaluated the contribution of the use of hormonal contraceptives and hair dyes on breast cancer risk factors. The biggest risk factor in breast cancer is high age and known lifestyle-related risk factors include late age at first birth, small number of children, high alcohol consumption and sedentary lifestyle," said Heikkinen. They analysed self-reported survey data from 8,000 breast cancer patients and 20,000 controls from Finland. The results suggested that use of other hormonal contraceptives was, by contrast, associated with 32 percent higher breast cancer risk among younger women under 50 when compared to women who did not use hormonal contraceptives.The team also investigated the amount of opportunistic mammography, which was found to be very common. More than 60 percent of responders reported having had a mammography before the screening age of 50. Women should be more extensively informed of the harms of opportunistic mammography, such as accumulating radiation burden and the potential consequences of false positive or negative findings," Heikkinen noted.

Breast cancer is a type of cancer originating from the breast tissues. Both men and women can be afflicted by it though it s rarer in men. Along with cervical cancer it s one of the most common types of cancer that afflicts women. One of the major issues with breast cancer is that it is often not detected soon enough. This is due to low awareness about the disease. Detecting it early can significantly reduce the death risk.Some common symptoms of breast cancer are:

1. A hard lump or a knot in the breast. Usually, these lumps are painless.
2. Occasionally, a clear cut lump cannot be felt, but a lumpish feel is there. And this feel is different as compared to the same area of the opposite breast.
3. Bloody or a blood stained nipple discharge
4. A recent in drawing or inward pull on the nipple or even a change in direction.
5. Changes in the skin over the breast, which feels thick, hard and like an orange peel
6. Occasionally, small knots or nodes may be felt in the armpit.

Read about top 10 myths about breast cancer busted!

(Read: Attention ladies! Mediterranean diet can reduce breast cancer risk)

Source: ANI

Image source: Shutterstock