BREAST CANCER.

 

The month of October every year is a month for breast cancer awareness. This is where people get the chance to learn more about breast cancer and be aware of it. 

What is breast cancer?

Cancer is a disease wherein some of the body's cells proliferate uncontrollably and spread to other bod parts.One type of cancer that begins in the breast is breast cancer.It may begin in either the left or right breast even both.There are numerous places on the breast where breast cancer can start.Lobules, ducts, and connective tissue make up the three basic components of a breast.

The glands that create milk are known as lobules.Milk travels in tubes called ducts all the way to the nipple.Everything is surrounded by and held together by connective tissue, which is made up of fatty and fibrous tissue. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts or lobules.Blood and lymph vessels are two ways that breast cancer can spread outside of the breast.Breast cancer is said to have metastasized when it spreads to other body regions.

Symptoms for the most common breast cancers include:

* A breast lump or tissue thickening that feels different from surrounding tissue

and is new

* Breast pain

* Red or discolored, pitted skin on the breast

* Swelling in all or part of your breast

*A nipple discharge other than breast milk

*Bloody discharge from your nipple

*A lump or swelling under your arm

These and many others could be indicative breast cancers.

Is every breast lump a cancer?

It's crucial to realize that the majority of breast lumps are benign and not cancerous (malignant). Breast tumors that are not cancerous are abnormal growths that do not spread to the exterior of the breast. While most benign breast lumps are not life threatening, some of them can raise a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. Any breast lump or alteration should be examined by a medical practitioner to determine whether it is benign or malignant (cancer) and whether it may increase your chance of developing cancer in the future.

Are men affected by breast cancer?

Males can also develop breast cancer, although women are more likely to develop it than men.A male is the victim of breast cancer in about 1 in 100 cases detected in the US.

Risk of breast cancer?

Some risk factors can’t be avoided, such as family history. You can change other risk factors, such as smoking. Risk factors for breast cancer include:

* Age. Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you age. Most invasive breast cancers are found in women over 55 years old.

* Drinking alcohol. Alcohol use disorder raises your risk.

* Gender. According to the ACS, white women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than white men, and Black women are 70 times more likely to develop breast cancer than Black men.

* Genes. People who have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are more likely to develop breast cancer than people who don’t. Other gene mutations may also affect your risk.

* Early menstruation.

* Giving birth at an older age. People who have their first child after 35 years old have an increased risk of breast cancer.

* Hormone therapy.

* Inherited risk. If a close female relative has had breast cancer, you have an increased risk of developing it. This includes your mother, grandmother, sister, or daughter. If you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, you can still develop breast cancer. In fact, most people who develop it have no family history of the disease.

* Late menopause start. People who start menopause after they’re 55 years old are more likely to develop breast cancer and others

Treatment 

The most popular form of treatment for breast cancer is surgery.Numerous patients also receive additional therapies such hormone therapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, or chemotherapy.

Prevention.

Following a healthy lifestyle, getting routine tests, and taking any preventative actions your doctor prescribes can all help lower your risk of developing breast cancer, even if there are some risk factors you can't control.Many people self-examine their breasts. The recommended practice is to take this exam once a month at the same time. In order to be aware of any changes that take place, you can become more familiar with how your breasts typically feel and look during the exam.