Breast Cancer - Touchable And Unbelievable
The most common form of cancer in women - which affects about
10% of the world's female population - is still the second most
common cause of cancer deaths in women. about 20% of all breast
cancer cases ending in death.
This form of cancer is the one considered to have the most
serious psychological effects on women. Some specialists say
that it happens because this form cancer affects what most women
consider to be their symbol of femininity: the breast.
Depression is often diagnosed in women who have breast cancer,
which makes the treatment even harder.
Risk factors
Many factors are considered to be the possible causes of breast
cancer. Contrary to what many people may think, breast cancer
also affects men, in smaller proportions - about 1 case in 1000.
Here are some factors considered to be involved in the
development of breast cancer:
Age
One thing is for sure about breast cancer: the risks increase
with age . Statistics show that for a woman who lives to the age
of 90, the risk of getting breast cancer is about 12,5% (or 1 in
8) . However, it's not impossible for young women to have breast
cancer and when it happens, the cancer tends to be more
aggressive. This is inflammatory breast cancer, difficult to
detect because it does not appear in mammography or ultrasound
and is often mistaken for mastitis, a simple breast infection .
Genes
Familial breast cancer is rare (less than 5%), but it can happen
and it was found to be linked to two different genes. Although
this is not a high risk factor for breast cancer, women who have
cases of breast cancer among their relatives should have tests
more often.
Hormones
The International Agency for Research on Cancer found that women
who take combined estrogen-progestogen contraceptives and
combined estrogen-progestogen menopausal therapy were at
increased risk.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Earlier found, better chances of survival. This is the statement
that summarizes the cure for breast cancer and it only makes
more important the medical advice that says that women should
have a complete check up, including a mammogram and an
ultrasound, once a year, especially once they reach their 30s or
40s. A self-examination of the breasts should be done monthly.
Any sign of nodules or lumps found by the woman while doing her
self-exam must be taken into account. Most women think that
these lumps have something to do with their periods and in many
cases they do, but they can also signify the presence of a tumor
and that's why the doctor must be told as soon as possible .
The symptoms vary from woman to woman. Some have lumps and some
don't. Some women have a white or light-yellow secretion
"leaking" from the nipple, some women feel that their breast is
tender and swollen. There are those women who feel nothing and
these are the most dangerous cases .
The self-exam and the mammogram once a year are the best ways to
diagnose breast cancer. If something is found by
self-examination, regardless of whether the woman had already
had a mammogram that year, another should be done.
Treatment
Medicine has improved a lot in the past few years and the
treatments for breast cancer have become more powerful and
effective .
There are different options for treatment of breast cancer and
doctors can choose the correct one by taking into account the
overall health of the woman affected:
- Local or Regional Treatments are directed right to the breast
and also to the lymph nodes around the breast. - Systemic
Treatments are directed to the whole body. - Alternative and
Holistic Treatments are important to the person because they
include not only the body, but also the mind and spirit as well.
In spite of that, the best treatment is no treatment at all, in
other words, prevention.