Here is some breast cancer info you should keep in mind:
- Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer among women
- Most breast cancer patients have no known predisposition
- Some warning signs of breast cancer are:
- A change in the size or the shape of the breast.
- Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
- Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
- New lump in the breast or underarm
- Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
- Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
- Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
- Pain in any area of the breast.
There are other conditions that can cause these changes and symptoms but it is best to consult your physician if you notice these signs. Also Keep in mind that some people develop breast cancer and have no symptoms at all.
- There are a number factors that increase you risk of getting breast cancer but just because you have a risk factor doesn’t mean you’ll get breast cancer. Most women have some risk factors. Consult your physician if you have any of these risk factors and work out a plan to reduce your risk.
- Getting older increases your risk.
- Being younger when you first had your menstrual period.
- Starting menopause at a later age.
- Being older at the birth of your first child.
- Never giving birth.
- Not breastfeeding.
- Personal history of breast cancer or some non-cancerous breast diseases.
- Family history of breast cancer (mother, sister, daughter).
- Treatment with radiation therapy to the breast/chest.
- Being overweight (increases risk for breast cancer after menopause).
- Long-term use of hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progesterone combined).
- Having changes in the breast cancer-related genes BRCA1 or BRCA2.
- Using birth control pills.
- Drinking alcohol (more than one drink a day).
- Not getting regular exercise.
- All women should undergo regular screening. There has been a recent change in the recommendation of what age mammograms should be performed but all women should be performing self exam and having their doctor perform a clinical breast exam and part of their routine medical care.
- Treatments for breast cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biologic therapy, and radiation. breast cancer patients often get more than one kind of treatment from their physician.
- When determining treatment a physician looks at a number of factors.
- whether you are premenopausal
- The type of breast cancer you have
- The size of your tumor
- The stage of your breast cancer
- The grade of your cancer cells
- Whether your cancer cells have a certain receptors
- Your overall health
