You've probably heard the word "inflammation" a lot, right? We probably use this word when we get a cut, a wound becomes swollen and red, or we get a fever. It's actually a normal response of our body's defense system. But did you know that sometimes this inflammatory state can persist in our bodies for a long time without any visible injury or infection? We call this chronic inflammation . Today we're going to talk about a topic that is important to many people: is there a connection between this chronic inflammation and breast cancer?
First of all, what is this inflammation?
Simply put, inflammation is the immune system's response to an injury, such as an infection or wound. Imagine you cut your finger. The area around the wound is red, slightly swollen, and feels warm, right? That's acute inflammation. That means your body's "army" (immune cells) has come to the site of the wound, fought off the invading germs, and started healing the wound. This is a good thing, and it will go away in a few days.
However, chronic inflammation is something different. It is a low-level inflammation that continues to occur in our bodies for months, even years. It can be caused by:
- Uncontrolled infections
- Obesity (increased body weight)
- A lazy lifestyle without exercise
- Alcohol and tobacco use
- Chronic stress
This chronic inflammation, like something constantly burning on a low flame, can gradually damage our cells and, over time, pave the way for serious diseases like cancer.
What is the connection between breast cancer and this inflammation?
This is a topic that is currently receiving the most attention from medical researchers. Although there is still no 100% confirmed conclusion on this, very strong evidence is accumulating.
"This is a really complex topic. I think inflammation plays a role in the development and spread of any cancer, not just breast cancer," says Dr. Naoto Tada Ueno, a specialist at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Here are some of the findings from the research:
- Chronic inflammation may increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence after it has been cured.
- Some studies have shown that people who use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g., ibuprofen, aspirin) have a slightly lower risk of developing breast cancer. (But don't start this without asking your doctor, okay?!)
- This chronic inflammation can contribute to the spread of cancer cells and reduce the response to cancer treatments.
But experts say that whether controlling inflammation alone can stop the spread of cancer and extend life is "still a big question mark." Science is still trying to understand exactly how this works.
How are immunity and our body's microbiome related to this?
This story goes a little deeper. It's very interesting. We said earlier that inflammation is a function of our immune system. So some scientists think that the cause of this inflammation-cancer connection may be the function of our immune system.
A study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic found something very surprising. That is, there are different types of bacteria in the breast tissue of healthy women without cancer and in the breast tissue of women with cancer. This means that just like our intestines, breast tissue has its own unique microbial community (microbiome) .
What's most surprising is that the microbial community in the breasts of women with cancer was different from that of healthy women. Since microbes can control the level of inflammation in our bodies, scientists suspect that this difference may be the bridge between breast cancer risk and inflammation.
The importance of this ``microbiome`` is so great that it has been found that the microbial community in the intestines of people who respond well to immunotherapy given to cancer patients is different from that of those who do not respond. Therefore, scientists are now researching whether methods such as ``fecal transplant`` can change a person's ``microbiome`` and increase the success of cancer treatments. Although these are still in the early stages, they have the potential to make a big difference in cancer treatments in the future.
So how do we reduce this chronic inflammation?
"If you ask if there is a specific drug or method that has been proven to work, the answer at the moment is 'no,'" says specialist Dr. Ueno. But he says not to worry, we will learn a lot more about this in the next ten years.
But we can't just wait until then. Fortunately, making a few simple changes to our lifestyle can go a long way in controlling this chronic inflammation. These things can not only reduce your risk of cancer, but also help protect against many other diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.
See the table below to see what we can do.
| What to do (Lifestyle Change) | Why is it important? (Why It Helps) |
|---|---|
| Maintaining a healthy weight | Obesity is the number one cause of chronic inflammation. When you gain weight, you develop insulin resistance , which increases blood sugar levels and inflammation. |
| Exercising regularly | Another great way to reduce inflammation is to do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise (such as brisk walking or cycling) a day. |
| Alcohol restriction | Drinking more than one drink a day for women and two for men increases inflammation. Alcohol also increases the risk of breast cancer. |
| Quitting smoking | The chemicals in cigarettes have been well proven to cause inflammation in the body, so this is another good reason to quit smoking. |
| Chronic disease management | If you have any medical conditions like diabetes or autoimmune diseases, keep them under control. See your doctor regularly and take your medications exactly as prescribed. |
| Stress management | Prolonged stress increases inflammation. Try relaxing with things like yoga, meditation, going for a walk with a friend, listening to music, or writing in a journal. |
Take-Home Message
- There are two types of inflammation: inflammation that occurs in the event of a simple injury (acute inflammation) and inflammation that persists in the body for a long time (chronic inflammation). It is this chronic inflammation that is dangerous for us.
- Although there is strong evidence that there is a link between chronic inflammation and breast cancer, research into this mechanism is still ongoing.
- The best way to control this inflammation is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, eating a good diet, and avoiding smoking and alcohol are very important.
- If you have any doubts or questions about breast cancer or any other health issue, please do not rely solely on information on the internet, but consult your family doctor for accurate advice.
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