Breast Cancer: Top Ten Things Every Woman Should Know
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Breast cancer is a reality many women will have to deal with. Statistics show that one woman out of nine will
develop breast cancer in her life. Whether it be a dear friend, a close family member or herself, every woman
will be touched by breast cancer in one way or the other. Breast cancer accounts for about 30% of all cancers.
Every woman should be aware of the risk factors and change those she can to lower her risk of developing
breast cancer in her life.
Women who are not active physically, smoke or consume a lot of alcohol are at higher risk to develop breast
cancer. Women who have their first child at a later age or have never given birth are at higher risk to develop
breast cancer. Women who had their first period at an earlier age (less than 12 years old) are at higher risk
for breast cancer. Woman who have close family members who had develop breast cancer are at higher risk
for themselves. Women who are older. The further a woman advances in life, the higher her probability of
developing breast cancer. Women who experience a late menopause (after 55 years old) have an increase
risk of developing breast cancer.
There is hope however and certain measures have proven to help reduce the risk of developing breast
cancer for a woman. It is recommended to exercise regularly, lose any excess weight, lower alcohol
consumption and stop smoking. It is also proven that women who breastfeed their babies are at lower risks
to develop breast cancer.
Certain measures, by finding breast cancer at an earlier stage can lower the complication rate and morbidity
associated with this condition. The two most recommended measures are to do a mammogram exam every
two years after the age of 50 (or earlier if a woman has risk factors) and doing a breast self-examination. It is
also recommended for a woman to visit her doctor regularly. One has to know that about two thirds of breast
tumours are found by the woman herself upon doing her self-examination.
Many organizations and industries have joined forces to push back breast cancer and one can only
encourage them by donating time or money for this worthy cause. There are many researches on breast
cancer conducted worldwide and it is expected that the near future will see the decline of this devastating
affliction.
In recent years, the incidence of breast cancer among women has increased. As a result of this,
organizations that aim to raise breast cancer awareness have doubled their efforts to give women around the
world the right information to help them prevent and deal with this disease. These organizations teach
women to detect early signs of cancer and recognize the symptoms of the disease. It has been proven that
early detection increases a woman?s chance of survival by as much as 96 percent.
Symptoms
Some of the symptoms that women are told to watch out for include lumps, which are usually firm and
painless. Other possible symptoms include swelling on the underarms and on the skin on the breasts which
then develops an unusual appearance. Women are also asked to look out for veins that become prominent
in the breast area. Other symptoms also include inverting of the nipples, rashes and changes in skin texture,
depressions on the breast area and discharges other than breast milk.
Early Detection Plan
However, looking out for symptoms is usually not enough in detecting this disease, since there are instances
in which patients are asymptomatic until the cancer reaches stage 3 or 4. To be able to prevent this, breast
cancer organizations encourage women to come up with an early detection plan, which includes clinical
breast examinations every three years for women aged 20 to 39, then every year thereafter. A monthly breast
examination for women beginning at age 20 is also encouraged. Mammograms every two years for women
in their 40s and yearly mammograms for women in their 50s are also being emphasized. Women are also
told to keep a record of these exams and their appointments with their doctors. Additionally, women are
urged to eat a low-fat diet, engage in regular exercise and avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
The importance of early detection of breast cancer cannot be denied since it has been proven to increase a
cancer patient? survival rate by as much as 96 percent. Given this, it is then important for women to do what
they can to prevent having to suffer unnecessarily from this disease. Having an early detection plan is an
effective way of doing just that.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, second only to lung cancer. One in eight women
will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to help
reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.
Factors that can affect your risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer are called risk factors. Risk factors can
be broken down into two categories, those that can be controlled and those that cannot be controlled.
RISK FACTORS THAT CANNOT BE CONTROLLED
The risk factors you have no control over are gender, hormones, age, genetic makeup and certain
environmental exposures.
GENDER: Women are much more inclined to develop breast cancer than men. This is primarily due to the
estrogen and progesterone in a woman’s body. These hormones stimulate cell growth in the breast, both
normal and abnormal.
HORMONES: Estrogen, a hormone that is produced by the ovaries, increases a woman’s risk for developing
breast cancer. A woman's exposure to estrogen can increase her risk by:
*using oral contraceptives.
*using Hormone Replacement Therapy.
*never being pregnant or having first child after the age of 35.
*early onset of menstruation and late onset of menopause.
AGE: Aging is one of the biggest risk factors for breast cancer. After a woman passes the age of 50, the
likelihood of developing breast cancer increases significantly.
GENETIC MAKEUP: There is a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer for women who have
already had breast cancer and for women who have had many family members diagnosed with cancer
(regardless of the type).
ENVIRONMENT: The air we breathe and the water we drink are full of toxins (poisons) that were not present
100 years ago. Many of these toxins are known to increase the risk of or directly cause cancer.
RISK FACTORS THAT CAN BE CONTROLLED
Lifestyle changes like altering your diet, starting an exercise program and losing weight, are the easiest
factors to control. Following the tips below may help you decrease your risk of breast cancer:
LOSE WEIGHT: There is a clear link between excess weight and breast cancer, especially if the weight gain
is after menopause. The extra fatty tissue is a source of circulating estrogen in your body. As stated above in
the GENDER risk factor, estrogen stimulates cell growth in the breast.
EAT THE RIGHT FOODS: A low-fat high-fiber diet can help reduce your risk of breast cancer and other
diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Try to eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables every day.
There are also some specific foods and supplements that can be very effective in your efforts to reduce the
risk of breast cancer:
*FLAXSEED: Flaxseed is a supplement comprised of phytoestrogens, naturally occurring compounds that
decrease estrogen production in your body, hindering the growth of breast cancer.
*OLIVE OIL: Olive oil contains oleic acid that is effective in destroying a protein that causes the growth of
breast cancer tumors.
*FISH OIL: A diet rich in fish oils can be effective in preventing the development of breast tumors. Fish oil
supplements are just as effective as eating the fish. Fish oil, like flaxseed, contains healthy OMEGA-3 fatty
acids.
*CARROTS: Consuming foods rich in beta-carotene, such as carrots, protects the body from damaging
molecules called free radicals. Free radicals cause damage to cells through oxidation that can lead to a
variety of chronic illnesses such as cancer.
*FOLIC ACID: (folate) is highly effective in preventing breast cancer in both pre- and post-menopausal
women. Foods high in folic acid are green, leafy vegetables, whole wheat bread, oranges, poultry, and
fortified cereals.
LIMIT ALCOHOL: The more alcohol a woman drinks, the higher the risk of developing breast cancer. If you
must drink, limit your intake to one small drink a day.
EXERCISE: Regular exercise provides a multitude of health benefits for your body including protection
against many chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Exercising at least 30 minutes every
day can decrease your hormone levels, lowering your risk of breast cancer.
There is nothing you can do that will guarantee a cancer-free life. All women are at risk for getting breast
cancer. However, lifestyle changes, eating a healthy diet, regular exercise, and regular breast cancer
screening can significantly reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.
