Presidential Health Adviser Prof. Dr. Nedime Serakıncı has warned that academic studies in Cyprus and Turkey show breast cancer is now most commonly diagnosed in the 40-49 age group, earlier than the global average of 50-70. She made the remarks as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed throughout October.
Serakıncı noted that breast cancer is the leading cancer among women, with 99% of cases occurring in females. "Being a woman is the most fundamental risk factor," she said, adding that the disease develops through a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors.
Only 5-10% of breast cancer cases stem from hereditary genetic mutations, she emphasised. "Having a genetic predisposition is not a destiny. It is possible to protect against cancer at a rate of 90-95% by changing environmental factors and lifestyle habits," Serakıncı stated.
Among the main risk factors, she listed obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, a sedentary lifestyle, prolonged hormone exposure, and radiation. Weight control, healthy nutrition, and regular physical activity were highlighted as the most effective protective measures.
Serakıncı also pointed to hormonal risks including early onset of menstruation, late menopause, and never having given birth. She noted that advances in medicine now allow for personalised, targeted therapies, enabling even advanced-stage patients to manage the disease as a chronic condition with extended survival.
On genetic testing, she cautioned that routine testing for the general population is unnecessary and can cause confusion and undue anxiety. Such tests are recommended for those with a family history of early-onset or multiple cancer cases, rare cases such as male breast cancer, and patients for whom targeted drug therapy has been prescribed by their doctor.
