From relative obscurity, breast cancer has become one of the leading
causes of deaths among women in the world. In 2001, about 200,000 cases
of breast cancer have been reported in the United States, making it the
second leading cause of cancer death in the US. It is, in fact, the
most common malignancy problem that is affecting women in North America
and Europe today.
But what is breast cancer and how do people get it?
Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumors in the breast grow and start
to affect other tissues in the body. There is still no clear
indications how tumors are created but what is often observed is that
cancerous cells usually comes from ducts or glands.
Although women’s health organizations advise women to massage the
breast daily and to feel for any lumps, it may a long time before a
cancerous cell get big enough for us to feel it. By that time, it may
already be too late. Doctors make use of mammograms for their
diagnosis.
Breast at risk
All women are actually at risk, with the risk increasing with the
presence of some risk factors that are already part of the natural
cycle, for example, aging. Family history of breast cancer can also
significantly affect the prognosis as heredity has been found to play a
role. Women who got their periods before they were 12 years old and
those who never had or had children after 30 years old are also more
likely to develop breast cancer.
There are also risk factors that medical science can help alter such as
hormonal problems through replacement therapies. Women are also advised
to decrease their consumption of alcoholic drinks, exercise every day
and decrease the use of birth control pills. Breastfeeding has been
found to decrease the risk of breast cancer development.
Although there are some factors that women can avoid to prevent breast
cancer from developing, cause and effect relationships between these
factors and breast cancer is still debatable. For women who are already
at high risk, doctors often recommend a drug called Tamoxifen, which is
known to decrease the risk by as much 50 percent when taken in five
years. Still, like all medications, Tamoxifen has side effects such as
hot flushes, vaginal discharges and sometimes even blood clots. Taking
the drug can also lead to pulmonary emobolus, stroke and uterine
cancer, although these are all isolated cases.
Another avenue that women can go to is Vitamin A, which some studies
show to be effective in decreasing the risk. Still, research is still
in the initial stages and nothing has been proven yet. Other things
that are being linked to the breast cancer fight are phytoestrogens,
which can be found in soya, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C.
But until something concrete is found in research, the only thing that
women can do to ensure that they are safe from breast cancer is early
detection. This can be done through daily self-examinations as well as
annual check ups and mammogram tests. It is also important that women
know the beginnings of breast cancer. Here are some of the signs that
they should watch out for.
Lumps in the breast and in the underarms
Scaling of the skin of the breast and of the nipple
Redness in the skin of the breast and of the nipple
Changes in the size of their breasts
Discharges from the nipple
If these signs are observed, it is best to consult a specialist so that you can know whether you have breast cancer or not.
