Around the world, the number of people who have breast
cancer are increasing steadily. In the USA, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with
breast cancer in her lifetime.
Why do people get breast cancer?
Many people believe that wearing underwire bras or getting
breast implants cause cancer, but that is entirely untrue!
It is not clear what exactly causes breast cancer, but there
are some factors that may increase our risk of developing it.
Our lifestyle is one factor.
A perfect Friday evening plan might look something like this
– inviting a group of friends or a loved one over to watch a movie and relax,
accompanied by all-you-can-drink alcohol and delicious and decadent snacks.
After all, Friday only comes round once a week.
However, this spells bad news for us. Consuming a copious
amount of alcohol makes us more susceptible to developing breast cancer. The
sedentary lifestyle of a couch-potato and being obese are also factors that can
increase our risk.
Here’s another plan – why not gather a group of friends to
catch Pokemon on the go? Hopefully, all the walking will help you hit your
weekly exercise quota and maintain a slender figure.
Other factors that increase our risk of developing breast
cancer are beyond our control, unfortunately. This includes factors like age,
family history, genetics, personal health history, the start of menstruation
and menopause, and even ethnicity.
What should I look out for?
Well, if majority of lumps in breasts are benign, then what
should I look out for, to know if I have breast cancer?
Breast cancer may manifest in the form of a lump, but
sometimes it does not. Symptoms could take the form of some physical
differences to the breast and nipple.
Take note of how they look. For example, is there itch and
rash around the nipple? How about bleeding or unusual discharge from the
nipple? If not, has the nipple shifted or retracted? How about the breast? Does
it have swollen, thickened or dimpled skin over it? Are there any changes to
its size and shape?
If you find any of these symptoms, make an appointment
immediately with your doctor to get yourself screened.
Also, just because the majority of lumps are not cancerous,
it does not mean that you leave it alone when you discover a lump in your
breast – get it checked out. Early detection and treatment is key to
recovering from breast cancer, and knowledge of a lump being benign would be a
load off your chest.
I’m in the clear! I don’t have any of these symptoms.
Not so fast. Even if you don’t have any of the above
symptoms, it is still advisable to go for regular screenings as early-stage
breast cancer does not exhibit any symptoms.
By going for screenings, you are conducting a routine check
to make sure that your breast is free of disease. If the results are negative,
great! But even if they detect cancer, it is much better to have it discovered
at this stage than later, when symptoms start showing up.
Early detection of breast cancer means that your cancer is
likely to be smaller and still confined in one spot. This makes it much easier
to treat and manage the cancer. It possibly means a longer lifespan, less
chances of the cancer recurring, and a higher chance of preserving the breast.
On the other hand, if the disease is put off till later, the
cancer would have spread to other parts of the body, making it difficult to
treat and control. The 5-year survival rate also drops significantly for cancer
detected at later stages. It suffices to say that most breast cancer deaths are
a result of late detection, which is unfortunate, because it is preventable.
How else can I protect myself from breast cancer?
Apart from regular screenings at the hospital, there are
also monthly breast self-examinations that you can do in the comfort of your
own home. For those of you still having your period, it should be done on the
same day each month, 3 to 5 days after the end of your period. As for the older
ladies among us who have already undergone menopause, all you have to do is
perform the test on the same day each month. If you observe any symptoms, try
to get them checked out as soon as possible!
By going for regular screenings, breast cancer can be
detected and treated earlier and much more effectively. Plus, the results are
encouraging. If you have not gone for a scan before, why not make an
appointment today? A scan today might just save you from far more serious
conditions in the future.
For more information or to make an appointment, please
contact us at 400.819.6622.
