Future of us
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
By- Riya Patel
Today is October 1st 2021. The month of October marks breast cancer awareness month. It begins on October 1st and ends on October 31st. In the course of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and throughout the year, people wear pink ribbons to honor survivors, remember those who have lost someone to the disease, and to assist the progress we are making together to conquer breast cancer. I thought it was necessary for me to write an article on breast cancer since it runs in my family. I gathered information and educated myself on this topic and hope it helps someone out there.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. It mainly occurs in women and is very rare for men to have. There have been more than 200,000 US cases per year. Types of breast cancer include ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, and metastatic breast cancer. The kind of breast cancer depends on which cells in the breast have turned into cancer. Breast cancer can start in different parts of the breast. A breast is made up of three main parts: lobules, ducts, and connective tissue. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts or lobules. Breast cancer can escalate and grow outside the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels.
What are the symptoms of Breast Cancer?
There are numerous symptoms of breast cancer. Some people have little to no symptoms and some people have a lot. Some warning signs include, lump in the breast or underarm, irritation of breast skin, redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or breast, thickening or swelling of part of the breast, discharge of the breast other than breast milk, including blood, any change in size or shape of the breast and pain in the area of the breast.
Risk Factors
There’s risk factors you can change and some things you cannot change. Things such as getting older, genetic mutations, reproductive history, having dense breasts, personal history of breast cancer or certain non- cancerous breast diseases, family history of breast or ovarian cancer, previous treatment using radiation therapy, and women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES). Some risk factors you can change are not being physically active, being overweight or obese after menopause, taking hormones, reproductive history, and drinking alcohol. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, you may have a high risk of getting breast cancer. You may also have a high risk for ovarian cancer. I recommend you talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk, such as medicines that block or decrease estrogen in your body, or surgery.
How can you reduce your chance of getting breast cancer?
Many factors throughout the course of your life can influence your breast cancer risk. You can’t change some factors, such as getting older or your family history, but you can help lower your risk of breast cancer by taking care of and being cautious of your health. Things such as keeping a healthy weight, not drinking alcohol or limiting your alcoholic beverages, exercising regularly, and breastfeeding your children. Staying healthy throughout your life will reduce your risk of developing cancer, and improve your chances of surviving cancer if it occurs.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Doctors use tests to find or diagnose breast cancers. Tests such as breast ultrasounds, diagnostic mammograms, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and biopsies. If breast cancer is diagnosed, other tests will be done to figure out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body. Whether the cancer is only in the breast, is found in lymph nodes under your arm, or has spread outside the breast, dictates your stage of breast cancer. The type and stage of breast cancer tells doctors what kind of treatment you need.
What is a mammogram and why should I get one?
A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. Doctors use a mammogram to look for premature signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the leading tests doctors have to find breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt. When you get a mammogram you will have to stand in front of a special X-ray machine. A technologist will set your breast on a plastic plate. Then another plate will firmly press your breast from top. The plates will then flatten the breast, holding it still while the X-ray is being done. You will feel some pressure. The steps will be repeated to make a side view of the breast. The other breast will be X-rayed in the same way. Screening mammograms are known as the international gold standard for detecting and diagnosing breast cancer early. Mammograms can usually find lumps 2 or 3 years before you or your doctor can feel them. Research has shown a 25% decrease in deaths from breast cancer amid those who regularly screen.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it's very important to get a mammogram every year as well as checking your own body for signs and symptoms. Talk to your doctor and educate yourself about the topic.
Join the movement and help out if you can! Donate today to help save lives and fund the future of breast cancer and research.