Origin of Breast
Cancer Awareness Month: If you’ve happened to notice an increase in pink
merchandising from your favorite brands or stores, then we’ve probably hit the
month of October which has been deemed breast cancer awareness month. We can
thank, former first lady, Betty Ford who helped raise awareness after
overcoming the disease herself. In 1985, the month was officially chosen after
the American Cancer Society formed a partnership with The Pharmaceutical
division of Imperial Chemical Industries.
What is Breast Cancer: The disease is caused by
malignant (cancer) cells which form in the breast tissue. As cells grow within
the tissues, sometimes they develop incorrectly and new cells, which the body
doesn’t need, grow instead and old or damaged cells do not die as they should.
This leads to what we call a lump, more formally known as a tumor - the buildup
of those damaged cells. These cells then break away from the original tumor,
enter blood vessels, and spread throughout the body. The next process,
metastasis, begins as these cancer cells travel and damage other tissues and
organs.
Breast
cancer is the biggest threat to breast health and 1 out of 8 women will likely
receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their life.
Breast Cancer for Males: Since the disease is
simply attacking the breast tissue, males are still at risk of the disease.
With this being said, male breast cancer is still rare with only 1 in 1,000
being diagnosed. However, the mortality rate for men is higher due to the lower
awareness for men.
The
majority of men diagnosed are over the age of 50.
The role of breast in reproductive health: For females, the breast
is both functional for breastfeeding their newborns after birth. This is a
decision you can choose to make but is the most recommended option. The many
benefits of breastfeeding include decreasing infections by passing antibodies
to your baby and reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, also known
as SIDS. They also have a lower chance of developing conditions like diabetes,
obesity, asthma, and ear infections.
Those
who choose to breastfeed can also benefit from it. Some cases have shown
breastfeeders returning to their pre-pregnancy weight faster. It can also help
blood pressure issues, reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and reduce the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer: Though it is unknown why the cells become damaged, there are established risk factors associated with breast cancer. These all include:
- Gender
- Breast
cancer occurs nearly 100 more times for women than men
- Race
- Breast
cancer is diagnosed more often in Caucasian women than other races
- Age – Two out of three women are diagnosed with invasive cancer after the age of 55
- Obesity
- Family
history of breast or ovarian cancer
- Radiation
the chest
- Combined
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
If you’d like to know more about the risk factors, click here!
Early Detection: If breast cancer is detected
early and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%.
Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams and scheduling regular
clinical breast exams and mammograms. Doctors recommended women of all ages
perform breast self-exams at least once a month. For information on how to
properly perform an at-home breast exam, click here!
Many
signs of breast cancer are indivisible or go unnoticed without a professional
screening, but some can be caught early.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer:
- A change in how the breast or nipple Looks or Feels.
- Tenderness around the nipples.
- A change in skin texture of enlargement of pores in the skin of the breast.
- A lump in the breasts. (Important reminder that all lumps should be checked,
but not all lumps are cancerous.)
- Any nipple discharge – Particularly clear discharge or bloody discharge
- Unexplained Swelling in the breast
- Unexplained Shrinking in the breast
- Recent changes in breast symmetry. Breast can be naturally asymmetrical but if
there are recent changes in size differences, seek medical attention.
- The nipple is turned slightly inward or inverted
- The skin of the breast, areola, or nipple that becomes scaly, red, or swollen or
may have ridges or pitting resembling the skin of an orange
Treatments for Breast Cancer:
- Surgeries such as
- Radiation therapy, which uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.
- Hormone
Therapy
- Chemotherapy, which destroys cancer cells or slows down the growth of new cancer cells.
- Therapies
that target the affected area
- Maintaining
good physical health, wellness, and nutrition
If
you’d like to know more about the ins and outs of breast cancer, visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation, INC.
