October 3, 2019
According to breastcancer.org,
“Every three minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer.”
Breast cancer is a serious illness that affects a significant population of American women. The good news is that, if detected early, breast cancer can often be successfully treated.
Breast cancer occurs when cells in breasts called “tumors” grow out of control, causing damage to the nearby tissues and spreading throughout. Tumors that are cancerous are known as “malignant tumors” and can cause a lot of damage to your body. As it takes a lot of time for a tumor to grow, it may not be easy to detect the tumor during a self-exam, but they may be detected early with mammograms.
The best treatment of breast cancer is early detection. By the age of 20, all women should start doing Breast Self Examination (BSE), as it is one of the easiest and earliest ways of detecting cancer. These check-ups should be done at least once a month, and a clinical breast exam should be done at least once a year.
Some of the signs to look for include:
- Change in size or shape
- A lump found in and around the nipple or underarm
- Nipple discharge or the nipple turning inward
- Redness of skin or warmth
- Formation of dimple or change in skin texture
Risk factors for breast cancer may include:
- Gender: Women are about 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than men.
- Age: As you grow older, your chances of breast cancer increases.
- Family history: If somebody in your family has suffered from breast cancer, your chances may be significantly greater.
- Lack of exercise or obesity: Lack of any physical activity or obesity may increase the likelihood of breast cancer.
- Alcohol: Long-term overconsumption of alcohol may increase your risk of breast cancer.
For more information about breast cancer detection and prevention, please visit breastcancer.org.