Why do women fear breast cancer more than any other disease?
Because each year thousands of women develop breast cancer in our society and
as scary as it sounds the percentage of breast cancer continues to rise. This
type of cancer is very common in our society. Nevertheless, with the help of
medical technologies breast cancer is now 90% curable when diagnosed early.
We do not know what causes breast cancer, although we do
know that certain risk factors may put you at higher risk of developing it. A
person's age, genetic factors, personal health history and diet all contribute
to breast cancer risk.
Before I go any further, we need to start at square one. We
may know what breast cancer is, but do we really know the entire factors
(details) behind the disease? Let us ask ourselves, "What is breast
cancer?"
Breast cancer is when the cells in a woman's body begin to
grow and reproduce out of control, which creates a collection of tissue called
a tumor. However, just because you have a tumor in the breast does not mean it
has to be cancerous.
If the cells that are growing out of control are normal
cells, the tumor is not cancerous. However, if the cells that are growing out
of control are abnormal and does not function like the body's normal cells, the
tumor is cancerous.
Cancers are named after the part of the body from which they
originate. Breast cancer originates in the breast tissue. Like other cancers,
breast cancer can infect and grow into the tissue surrounding the breast. It
can also pass through to other parts of the body and form new tumors. This
course of action is called metastasis.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American
women, after nonmelanoma skin cancer. Over the past 50 years, the number of
women diagnosed with the disease has increased each year.
Today, approximately one in almost every eight women (13.4%)
will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is the second-leading
cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. It is the leading cause of
cancer death among women ages 35 to 54.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005,
approximately 211,240 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and
approximately 40,410 will die. Although these numbers may sound frightening,
research tells us that the death rate could decrease by 30% if all women age 50
and older who need a mammogram had one.
Only 5-10% of breast cancers occur in women with a clearly
defined genetic predisposition for the disease. The majority of breast cancer
is not related to their family history. The risk for developing breast cancer
increases as a woman ages.
Below I listed the warning signs of breast cancer. It is
important to understand what the disease is and to know the symptoms, so you
can get medical attention if necessary.
Look for:
o Lump or thickening in, near the breast, or in the underarm
that persists through the menstrual cycle.
o A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a seed.
o A change in the size, shape or contour of the breast.
o A bloodstained or clear fluid discharge from the nipple.
o A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the
breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, scaly or inflamed).
o Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.
o An area that is distinctly different from any other area
on either breast.
o A marble-like hardened area under the skin.
These changes may be found when performing monthly breast
self-exams. By performing breast self-exams, you can become familiar with the
normal monthly changes in your breasts. All doctors stress the importance of
breast examinations. The problem is that most women do not know how to give a
breast examination to them and instead wait until they see their doctor. By
then it could be too late. This is why it is important to learn how to give you
a breast examination.
Breast self-examination should be performed at the same time
each month, three to five days after your menstrual period ends. If you have
stopped menstruating, perform the exam on the same day of the month. To perform
a breast self-exam, follow the steps described below.
In the mirror:
1. Stand undressed from the waist up in front of a large
mirror in a well-lit room. Look at your breasts. Do not be alarmed if they do
not look equal in size or shape. Most women's breasts are not. With your arms
relaxed by your sides, look for any changes in size, shape or position, or any
changes to the skin of the breasts. Look for any skin puckering, dimpling,
sores or discoloration. Inspect your nipples and look for any sores, peeling or
change in the direction of the nipples.
2. Next, place your hands on your hips and press down firmly
to tighten the chest muscles beneath your breasts. Turn from side to side so
you can inspect the outer part of your breasts.
3. Then bend forward toward the mirror. Roll your shoulders
and elbows forward to tighten your chest muscles. Your breasts will fall
forward. Look for any changes in the shape or contour of your breasts.
4. Now, clasp your hands behind your head and press your
hands forward. Again, turn from side to side to inspect your breasts' outer
portions. Remember to inspect the border underneath your breasts. You may need
to lift your breasts with your hand to see this area.
5. Check your nipples for discharge (fluid). Place your
thumb and forefinger on the tissue surrounding the nipple and pull outward
toward the end of the nipple. Look for any discharge. Repeat on your other
breast.
In the shower
6. Now, it is time to feel for changes in the breast. It is
helpful to have your hands slippery with soap and water. Check for any lumps or
thickening in your underarm area. Place your left hand on your hip and reach
with your right hand to feel in the left armpit. Repeat on the other side.
7. Check both sides for lumps or thickenings above and below
your collarbone.
8. With hands soapy, raise one arm behind your head to
spread out the breast tissue. Use the flat part of your fingers from the other
hand to press gently into the breast. Follow an up-and-down pattern along the
breast, moving from bra line to collarbone. Continue the pattern until you have
covered the entire breast. Repeat on the other side.
Lying down
9. Next, lie down and place a small pillow or folded towel
under your right shoulder. Put your right hand behind your head. Place your
left hand on the upper portion of your right breast with fingers together and
flat. Body lotion may help to make this part of the exam easier.
10. Think of your breast as a face on a clock. Start at 12
o'clock and move toward 1 o'clock in small circular motions. Continue around
the entire circle until you reach 12 o'clock again. Keep your fingers flat and
in constant contact with your breast. When the circle is complete, move in one
inch toward the nipple and complete another circle around the clock. Continue
in this pattern until you have felt the entire breast. Make sure to feel the
upper outer areas that extend into your armpit.
11. Place your fingers flat and directly on top of your
nipple. Feel beneath the nipple for any changes. Gently press your nipple
inward. It should move easily.
Repeat steps 9, 10 and 11 on your other breast.
Cancerous tumors are more likely to be found in certain
parts of the breast over others. If you divide the breast into 4 sections, the
approximate percentage of breast cancers found in each area are (in clockwise
pattern):
o 41% upper, outer quadrant
o 14% upper, inner quadrant
o 5% lower, inner quadrant
o 6% lower, outer quadrant
o 34% in the area behind the nipple
Almost half occur in the upper outer quadrant of the breast,
towards the armpit. Some physicians refer to this region as the
"tail" of the breast and encourage women to examine it closely.
See your doctor if you discover any new breast changes, changes
that continue after your menstrual cycle, or other changes that you are
concerned about such as:
o An area that is distinctly different from any other area
on either breast.
o A lump or thickening in, near the breast, or in the
underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle.
o A change in the size, shape or contour of the breast.
o A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a seed.
o A marble-like area under the skin.
o A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the
breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, scaly or inflamed).
o Bloody or clear fluid discharge from the nipples.
o Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.
If you go to your doctor and your doctor finds cancer, you
and your doctor will develop a treatment plan to eliminate the breast cancer,
to reduce the chance of cancer returning in the breast, as well as to reduce
the chance of the cancer traveling to a location outside of the breast.
Treatment generally follows within a few weeks after the diagnosis.
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