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Viktoriia Kurilenko
INTRODUCTION
Various researches to find a cure for one of the most deadly diseases ever are still going on, showing little progress. There are multiple ways that can better off the symptoms, and even take the cancer cells out of the body. However, there is still no cure that is efficient enough and can guarantee that cancer won’t spark again, which happens very often with modern cancer treatments. Not to mention, the treatments are extremely expensive and not everyone can afford them. For these reasons, it is very important to look out for the symptoms before the disease evolves into something serious, and also do everything possible to prevent cancer. This article will go over the main information and the crucial things to look out for in order to not get such a serious condition.
What Is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is the second most popular kind of cancer diagnosed in women in the US. It is a type of cancer that is developed in the cells of breasts and can be spread to other organs. The location and the type of cells in which this kind of cancer is developed in, define the specific kind of breast cancer a woman is suffering from. A breast consists out of three parts which are lobules, ducts, and connective tissue. Lobules are needed to produce milk, the ducts carry the milk to the nipple, and the connective tissue, which is mainly made out of fat, holds everything together. In most cases, breast cancer forms in ducts and lobules. When the affected cells spread to other organs outside of the breasts through the bloodstream, its called metastasis.
What Causes Brest Cancer?
The main causes of breast cancer are being older and having a relative who suffered from this condition. It is not clear what exactly can be causing this kind of cancer but it is known that hormonal, environmental factors, and the lifestyle can increase the risks of having it. “Doctors estimate that about 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are linked to gene mutations passed through generations of a family” (Mayoclinic). Some other causes of breast cancer could be obesity, radiation exposure, drinking alcohol, having the first menstruation at a young age, giving birth at an older age, and having never been pregnant. However, it is very common for somebody who doesn’t have any risk factors to develop cancer, as well as the opposite.
Kinds of Breast Cancer
“Types of breast cancer include ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, and metastatic breast cancer” (NBCF). The most common ones are invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma. In the first one, the cancer cells grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. In another one, cancer cells spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by.
Symptoms and Treatments
There are various ways for breast cancer to demonstrate itself in a woman’s body. In many cases, people might not experience these symptoms at all. Some of the most popular signs are (YSC):
New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
Irritation or dumping of breast skin
Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast
Pain in the nipple area
Nipple discharge other than breast milk
Any change in the size or the shape of the breast
Any pain in the area of the breast
Ways to Prevent
Ask your doctor about screening: a good idea would be to ask your doctor when to have breast cancer screening exams and tests. Discuss the benefits and risks of screening with them and then decide which screening strategies are the most suitable for you.
Self-exam at home: the easiest way to keep a look and make sure there are no symptoms of breast cancer without medical help is self-examinations. You can occasionally inspect your breasts, paying attention to any changes. The self-examination itself won’t prevent cancer development, but it can help to recognize the early signs and therefore, prevent the further spread of cancer cells. If there are lumps or changes of color in any area of the breast, seek a doctor’s help immideately.
Avoid alcohol: limit the amount of alcohol you drink daily or even consider not drinking at all.
Be active: it is important to exercise or do any other kind of activity most of the days of the week. Playing a sport or doing yoga is a great way to keep yourself in shape, improve your mental health and physical health in general. It will also keep you safe from a lot of kinds of infections and diseases. For these reasons, being active is important not only to avoid cancer but to be healthy overall.
Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy: this hormone therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer. You need to discuss the risks with your doctor, but in case of experiencing bothersome signs during the menopause, it might be acceptable in order to relieve those symptoms. Using the lowest dose of hormone therapy for a short amount of time will help to reduce the risks.
Healthy weight: work on maintaining a normal weight and in case there is a need to lose weight, look for healthy strategies and methods. Keep being active and consume a regular calorie intake per day.
Maintain a healthy diet: the researches have shown that women who eat the Mediterranean diet, which is known for the olive oil and nuts, show fever risks to get breast cancer. People who follow it consume a lot of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and avoid red meat. This diet has a lot of benefits, but it is not necessary to switch up your eating preferences, it is more about including healthy products into your everyday life to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
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Works Cited
“Breast Cancer.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22 Nov. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352470.
“Can I Lower My Risk of Breast Cancer?” American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/can-i-lower-my-risk.html.
Chang, Louise. “Breast Cancer Causes and Known Risk Factors: Genetics, Hormones, Diet, and More.” WebMD, WebMD, 2 Feb. 2019, www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/what-causes-breast-cancer.
“Signs & Symptoms of Breast Cancer.” Young Survival Coalition, Young Women Facing Breast Cancer Together., www.youngsurvival.org/learn/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-101/breast-cancer-symptoms.
“Types Archives.” National Breast Cancer Foundation, www.nationalbreastcancer.org/types-of-breast-cancer/.
“What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Sept. 2018, www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/symptoms.htm.
“What Is Breast Cancer?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Sept. 2018, www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/what-is-breast-cancer.htm.
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