Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and it's very serious. But breast cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers, so it's important to know the facts about this disease.
BREAST CANCER: A GENERAL EXPLANATION
It can occur at any age, but it tends to develop after menopause. However, some early-onset breast cancers may be found in young adults as well.
There are several different types of breast cancer:
- Invasive cancer refers to cells that have spread beyond their normal boundaries. For example, they may have invaded into lymph nodes or bloodstream vessels nearby to your breast tissue (called lymph Node Metastasis).
- Noninvasive means that there are no signs or symptoms showing up on your skin surface like redness/swelling from an injection site; this kind of cancer does not invade nearby tissues or organs where it might cause harm (like liver damage).
Stage 0 breast cancer is a noninvasive tumor that has not spread beyond the breast. It is also known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and it accounts for about 20 percent of all new cases of breast cancer. Stage I refers to early-stage cancer that has not yet spread beyond your breast tissue or lymph nodes. Stage II is used when cancer has spread to lymph nodes under the arm on the same side as where the tumor was found, but no other organs have been affected.
BREAST CANCER SYMPTOMS
The most common symptoms of breast cancer are lumps or dimpling in the skin of your breast. Sometimes, these lumps can be hard to detect, especially if they're small and hidden beneath other tissues.
If you notice any unusual changes in your breasts—such as a lump or dimpling—you should see a doctor right away. If it's not clear what's causing these changes and how serious they are, an ultrasound could help diagnose them more accurately than physical exams alone might allow.
HOW BREAST CANCER IS DIAGNOSED
You can have breast cancer if:
- You have a lump or thickening in your breast.
- You have any other change in the shape, size, or feel of your breast.
If you're concerned that you may have breast cancer, talk to your doctor right away. They will do a physical exam to check for lumps and other changes in the breasts that could be precursors to cancer. If they find something suspicious (such as an unusual lump), they'll want to get it checked out by an expert who knows how to treat this type of disease so that they can figure out what kind of treatment is right for you.
It's important to note that breast lumps and dimpling can be a sign of other conditions, such as fibroadenomas or cysts. But if you notice changes in your breasts, it's best to get them checked out by a doctor.
BREAST CANCER TREATMENTS
When it comes to breast cancer treatment, there are many options available. The most common treatments include hormone therapy and chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and targeted therapy. In addition to these treatments, you may also choose to undergo biologic or natural therapies as part of your recovery process after a mastectomy (removal of one breast).
HORMONE THERAPY
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the use of hormones in order to treat menopause symptoms or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It can also be used as an adjunctive treatment for female reproductive tract cancers such as breast cancer by helping with prevention against recurrence; however studies have shown mixed results on how effective this drug is at preventing progression from stage 1 through 4 disease or death from disease overall so more research needs done before doctors start prescribing HRT again for patients with early stage breast cancers.
BREAST CANCER PREVENTION
The following are some ways to prevent breast cancer:
- Exercise regularly, especially if you're overweight or obese. The more you weigh, the higher your risk of developing breast cancer.
- Reduce alcohol consumption and don't smoke cigarettes (or do so less often). Smoking increases your chances of getting breast cancer by about 30 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.
- Avoid going without bras for long periods of time-you should change your bra every two hours at least once a day; this will help keep your breasts from sagging and keep them from carrying too much weight around on them as well as helping prevent stretch marks from forming on the skin over time which may lead to other skin problems down there that could eventually result in scarring/fibrosis later down line!
The first step in diagnosing breast cancer is a physical exam. Your doctor will examine your breasts and may use a handheld tool called a magnifying glass to look at them more closely. They may also order other tests, such as mammograms or ultrasounds, which are used to find tumors in the breast tissue.
MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT BREAST CANCER
In the U.S., more than 1 million women are living with breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for American women (and men).
The three-year survival rate for all types of breast cancer is 99%. That means that if you're diagnosed with this disease today, you'll probably still be alive three years from now!
Breast cancers can be cured if caught early enough—but only about half will ever be treated successfully at that point; many choose to just "live" with their diagnoses until they're better able to handle them emotionally or physically."
HOW TO LIVE WITH BREAST CANCER: TIPS AND SUPPORT
Talk to your doctor about your treatment options. Your doctor will be able to help you decide what’s right for you and how to best manage your breast cancer.
Get support from family and friends. You can find comfort in knowing that there are people out there who understand what it's like to live with this disease, so reach out if they're in need of a shoulder to lean on as well!
Stay positive and keep a positive attitude—no matter how much pain or fatigue may come along with some days (or weeks or months), remember that living life isn't over just because of an illness like breast cancer; instead, focus on the things that make us happy!
If you notice any unusual changes in your breasts or feel a lump, call your doctor immediately If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to talk with your doctor. You can also visit the Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia's website for more information on breast cancer.
CONCLUSION
Breast cancer is a terrible disease that affects more than 1.6 million women in the United States each year. It’s important to know what breast cancer is, and how it affects your body. There are many myths and facts about this disease, so we hope you will use this article as a starting point for learning more about your own health condition! We wish you all the best as you continue on this journey towards recovery and wellness.
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