Why is Left Breast Cancer More Common?
Several theories have been provided to explain the increased incidence of left-sided breast cancer.
While none of these theories have been completely confirmed, they do provide interesting insights into the potential causes of the greater prevalence of cancer in the left breast.
Size Difference
In many women, the left breast is slightly larger than the right. This size differences may result in a greater number of breast tissue cells in the left breast, increasing the risk of getting cancerous cells.
Self-Examination Habits
The majority of people are right-handed; therefore right-handed women may find it easier to inspect their left breast more completely during self-breast exams. This could lead to early discovery and diagnosis of left-sided breast cancer, contributing to the greater incidence observed in statistics.
Breastfeeding Tendencies
Some research suggests that women prefer to breastfeed from their right breast, especially if they are right-handed. This preference may result in decreased stimulation of the left breast during breastfeeding, affecting breast tissue and potentially contributing to cancer development.
Random chance
It is also possible that the variation in breast cancer prevalence between the left and right breasts is just random and has no biological basis.
Understanding these potential risk factors can help raise awareness about breast cancer and encourage women to perform frequent self-examinations and screenings to ensure early identification and best outcomes.