What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer causes
The causes of breast cancer are often unclear. However, breast cancer is more common in women who:
- Had their first menstruation at a young age and experienced menopause at a late age;
- Do not have children or had their first pregnancy after the age of 35;
- Have used hormone-heavy birth control pills at a young age for a long period, or have taken hormone therapies for menopause symptoms for an extended time;
- Have a less healthy lifestyle, including physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, or being overweight.
Hereditary or familial breast cancer
You are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer if you have a hereditary or familial predisposition.
Hereditary predisposition
A small percentage of people with breast cancer—about 5-10%—developed breast cancer as a result of a hereditary predisposition. A hereditary predisposition means that a single change to the DNA significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
Familial predisposition
In some families, multiple women have been diagnosed with breast cancer, but no hereditary predisposition has been detected through DNA testing. If this is the case, we speak of familial breast cancer.
If you suspect that you have a hereditary predisposition for cancer, you and your family members can receive advice from the Clinical Genetics Department at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. Based on the results, we can offer personalized advice on periodic screenings and preventive measures.
If you notice any of the following changes in yourself, please consider consulting your doctor:
- A lump or dent in the breast
- An inverted nipple
- Eczema around the nipple
- Bloody nipple discharge
If your general practitioner suspects breast cancer, either due to the results of a screening test or the discovery of a lump, you will usually be able to come to our Center within one week. We will schedule your appointment for the next working day at the Center for Early Diagnostics as soon as we receive the referral from your general practitioner.
You will most likely find out whether or not you have breast cancer within 2 hours on the day of your appointment.
A small percentage of people with breast cancer—about 5-10%—developed breast cancer as a result of a hereditary predisposition. A hereditary predisposition means that a single change to the DNA significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
If there are indications of a possible hereditary predisposition for breast cancer, you can be referred for a genetic investigation at the Clinical Genetics outpatient clinic at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. If you have not been diagnosed with breast cancer yourself, it is preferred that a family member with breast cancer be referred for the genetic investigation.
A clinical geneticist can assess your risk of developing (or redeveloping) breast cancer based on family history and a possible DNA test and provide recommendations for breast screenings.
Specialists at the NKI Center for Early Diagnostics can refer you for an appointment with the Clinical Genetics clinic. Your general practitioner or specialist can also refer you to this clinic. The costs of genetic testing are covered by the Dutch basic health insurance package, but keep in mind that your deductible (own risk) may apply.
There are different types of breast cancer. The most common are:
Invasive Carcinoma NST (No Special Type)
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Hormone-Sensitive Breast Cancer
HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
You can find extensive information about these on the website kanker.nl.
Some abnormalities are not breast cancer but can become so (precursors such as Ductal Carcinoma in Situ; DCIS or Lobular Carcinoma in situ (LCIS)).
