This October, breast cancer awareness is at the forefront of our minds. October is the Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Cancer of the breast is the most common type of cancer in women as it affects 1 in 8 women. One in every three women will be diagnosed with breast lump at some point in their life.
Women who visit for a mammogram most frequently complain of pain under the breast or a breast lump.
Breast cancer is a topic that needs to be addressed and acknowledged year-round, not just during October.
Awareness and early detection can save lives, so it’s important to get screened annually for breast cancer.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in your boobs or any of the tissues that make up the breast.
It can also spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and bones.
The American Cancer Society recommends that women begin annual mammogram screenings at age 40 and continue them every year until age 75.
Breast cancer is a common type of cancer that can occur in the breast tissue. It often starts in cells that line the inner part of the breast, called ducts.
These cells produce milk and other substances that travel through the ducts to supply your body with nutrients and hormones.
It's also the leading cause of death from cancer for American women.
Breast Cancer Causes
The cause of breast cancer is not known. But there are risk factors for developing this disease. These include:
-Being over 40 years old
-family history of breast or ovarian cancer
-Having had a child during your 20s or 30s
Breast Cancer Symptoms
The most common symptoms of breast cancer are:
-A change in size or shape
-A lump or thickening
-Nipple discharge
-Skin irritation
-Redness or scaling skin on the nipple
If you have a family history of breast cancer, it's important to know that early detection helps save lives and can lead to a cure.
Your doctor may recommend a breast cancer screening if you are at high risk for breast cancer, or if your family history makes you more likely to develop the disease.
The best way to know if you may be at high risk is to talk with your doctor, who will figure out what tests are right for you.
Early detection can mean the difference between a few months or more of your life being affected by breast cancer.
Some of the tests that might be recommended include:
Self-Breast Examination
Below are the self-breast examination steps to follow.
1. Start by gently massaging your breast and nipple area with your warm hands to relax.
2. Gently pull back on the skin of your breast to feel for any lumps or unusual areas of sensitivity.
3. Next, you can use a mirror to see if there are any lumps or abnormalities that you might have missed during the self-breast examination steps above (if so, please consult a doctor).
4. If no lumps or abnormalities were found during the self-breast examination steps above, then you're done! You can go about your day feeling confident in your body and knowing that you're doing everything possible to stay healthy!
Mammograms Near me
Mammograms are a type of medical imaging that uses low-energy X-rays to create images of breast tissue.
In the United States, a mammogram is usually done on women over the age of 40. It is also done on younger women who have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Mammograms are not perfect and they cannot detect all types of cancers. However, they are still effective in detecting most cancers and can save lives when detected early enough.
Ultra Sound Scan Breast
Women aged less than 35 years of age are offered breast ultrasound scan to avoid radiation.
Breast Cancer Treatment
The good news is that most types of breast cancer are curable when caught early and treated with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Breast Cancer Prevention
This cancer most often affects women, but men get it too.
It is rare in seniors. It is more common among younger people.
Breast cancer is most often diagnosed when it has already spread to other parts of the body (Breast cancer metastasis).
Depending on where they start and whether they have spread, there are four types of breast cancer stages.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, but it's a disease that can be prevented.
With regular breast cancer screenings, doctors can catch tumors early and treat them before they become life-threatening.
The best breast cancer prevention method is breastfeeding.
In this breast cancer awareness month do not fear to go for a breast cancer screening.
