October is officially celebrated as breast cancer month also called Pinktober around the world. A month of awareness increases your knowledge about this disease and highlight breast cancer as a top health priority in women. This awareness will help you detect breast cancer at an early stage so that it can be easily treatable. Breast cancer awareness month also offers support to the one suffering from it.
Pinktober urges people to wear pink ribbons which main objective is to honour the survivors, and to remember those who lost their lives to this disease and to support every progress happening to defeat breast cancer.
Now coming towards the five must know facts that we all should be aware of to fight breast cancer!
1-About 1 in 8 women develop:
About 1 in 8 women develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime . Not only women but male can also suffer from this disease however it is less common, but if you’re women you are at higher risk.
2-Family History:
You’re at higher risk if you have a family history of breast cancer. Women with a first- degree relative with breast cancer have nearly twice the risk of being diagnosed with it. So it is important to know your family history and keep your doctor in loop!
3- Dense Breasts:
Women with dense breast also have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Breast with a lot of fibrous or glandular tissue and not much fat in them are known as dense breast. It is hard to detect breast cancer in dense breast, the risk increases with the density of breast.
4- Annual Mammograms:
Women at the age of 40 or above are at increased risk of getting breast cancer so they should start getting annual breast screening/ mammograms to detect cancer at an early stage. Early detection means more treatment options and better outcomes. Clinical trials show a 30% to 40% reduction in breast cancer deaths among women who have had annual screening mammograms ages 40 to 50.
5- Some breast changes to watch out for:
It is better to self-examine yourself every month. Early breast cancer detection can improve your chances of survival. If you notice any of the following consult your doctor, it’s better to be extra careful when it comes to your breasts!
- A lump in or near your breast or under your arm
- Changes in the size or shape of your breast
- Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
- A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
- Skin redness, soreness, rash
- Swelling
- Nipple discharge (could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid, or blood)
Normal breast tissue may be lumpy, so it is important to know not every lump is cancerous. These changes may not necessarily indicate that you have breast cancer, but they could and should be evaluated.
Some Breast Cancer Prevention for Young Women
These are some of risks you should start avoiding at an early age to avoid breast cancer.
- Stop smoke
- Start exercising regularly
- Eat a healthy diet, adapt healthy lifestyle
- Limit consumption of red meats and processed meats
- Maintain a healthy weight, obesity leads to breast cancer.
- Limit or avoid alcohol consumption
- If possible, avoid shift work, especially at night
Changing your lifestyle and habits may not completely prevent you from getting cancer but it can lower your risk. Choose a healthy lifestyle to avoid several health risks. Death rates for breast cancer have been decreasing in the past two decades due to increased awareness, but are still higher than those for any other cancer, among women.
Author:
Maria Sarfraz (mariaa.sarfraz)
