Breast Cancer: The Most Common Type of Cancer Among Women
A diagnosis of breast cancer can make you feel defenseless, afraid, no, terrified. With the many advances of made in early detection and new, modern therapy, the survival rate for women with breast cancer is 97 percent. If the cancer is found in later stages, the survival rate is still 87 percent. Breast cancer is no longer a hopeless condition.
Early detection is important to the survival rate for breast cancer victims. All women are at risk for developing breast cancer. Some women have higher risks than others. Breast cancer is a disease that can’t yet be prevented. However, early detection will give you a better chance of beating it.
Several common breast conditions are not cancers that can be discovered by self-breast examination. Breast infections and inflammations, nipple discharge, benign lumps, and breast pain are found by self-examination.
The 3 Step Plan
Experts have put together a three-step plan for prevention of breast cancer.
Step 1: At 20, a woman should be practicing self-examination and continue throughout her life. This should continue a monthly basis throughout life. These should continue even through pregnancy and done at a regular time every month. This allows you to know how your breasts feel when they are normal, so if a change has occurred, you are immediately aware of it. Some changes that you can detect by self-breast examination are; abnormalities with the nipple, swelling, feeling a lump, discharge at the nipple, and skin irritation or dimpling of the breast. If you find any of these conditions during your monthly self-exam, you should call your doctor as soon as possible.
Step 2: A clinical exam by a doctor or a nurse trained in women’s breast problems. Between the ages of 20 and 39, the American Cancer Society recommends a check by a health care provider every three years. It’s recommended at age 40 women should have a clinical exam every year. Some offices and hospitals have forms you can “practice” on to get the feel of tiny little lumps and allows you to catch tinier lumps. A doctor, or trained professional can also answer any questions you might have from your self-exams.
Step 3: Have regular mammograms. These low-dose x-rays can detect breast problems or even tiny lumps before they can be felt. If something is found, a biopsy will be performed to find out if the problem is benign or cancerous. The National Cancer Institute recommends that women around 40 should have a mammogram scheduled for at least every two to three years. If there is a history of breast cancer in the immediate family, or if suspicious areas have been found when they were younger, the doctor may want to start mammograms when the woman is under 40. There is a controversy about this because the American Cancer Society recommends women over 40 should have a mammogram every year. By talking to your health care provider, you can decide the schedule that is best for you.
Men Are at Risk, Too
Women are not alone when it comes to breast cancer. Men also can fall victim to this disease. It is far less common in men, but there is still a one-percent chance that a man can develop breast cancer. Risks for men are increased by radiation exposure, if they have or used estrogen, and those that have a family history of breast cancer in the women of his family.
What are the symptoms a man should be aware of in watching for breast cancer? If a man should notice any unusual lumps in the breast area, nipple inversion, a bloody discharge or any discharge from the nipple, and any pain or pulling sensation in the breast area.
The prognosis for men with breast cancer is similar to those for women. The problem is that men often are diagnosed much later than their women counterparts. Treatment for breast cancer in men is close to the same as it is for women. A radical mastectomy is the same for a man as it is for a woman. Other treatments can include radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. These extra therapies are given as a precaution after surgery to kill any cancer that may have been left behind.
With the survival rate of breast cancer patients going up all the time, it is so important that you use self-breast examination to detect any early signs of cancer.
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