Pink October; Breast Cancer Awareness

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The fight is on!

Support the fight, let's give hope.


Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. It affects women mostly but rarely in men.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women and the cause of 15% of all cancer deaths among women - WHO(2018)

What is Breast cancer awareness?

Breast cancer awareness is an effort to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of breast cancer through education on the signs, symptoms and treatment. Breast Cancer Awareness helps to increase the attention and support for the awareness, early detection, treatment and as well as care of the disease. 

Worldwide, the month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, popularly known as PINK OCTOBER.


What are the causes?

Breast cancer occurs when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and continue to accumulate, forming a lump or mass. Cells may spread (metastasize) through your breast to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your body.


Breast cancer most often begins with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma). Breast cancer may also begin in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissue within the breast.


Researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer. But it's not clear why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer, yet other people with risk factors never do. It's likely that breast cancer is caused by a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment.


Risk factors of Breast cancer

A breast cancer risk factor is anything that makes it more likely you'll get breast cancer. But having one or even several breast cancer risk factors doesn't necessarily mean you'll develop breast cancer.

Many women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors other than simply being women.


Factors that are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer include:


  1. Being female: Women are much more likely to develop breast cancer than men.
  2. Increasing age: Your risk of breast cancer increases as you age.
  3. A personal history of breast conditions: If you've had a breast biopsy that found lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical hyperplasia of the breast, you have an increased risk of breast cancer.
  4. A personal history of breast cancer: If you've had breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast.
  5. A family history of breast cancer: If your mother, sister or daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly at a young age, your risk of breast cancer is increased. Still, the majority of people diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.
  6. Inherited genes that increase cancer risk: Certain gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer can be passed from parents to children. The most well-known gene mutations are referred to as BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes can greatly increase your risk of breast cancer and other cancers, but they don't make cancer inevitable.
  7. Radiation exposure: If you received radiation treatments to your chest as a child or young adult, your risk of breast cancer is increased.
  8. Obesity: Being obese increases your risk of breast cancer.
  9. Beginning your period at a younger age: Beginning your period before age 12 increases your risk of breast cancer.
  10. Beginning menopause at an older age: If you began menopause at an older age, you're more likely to develop breast cancer.
  11. Having your first child at an older age: Women who give birth to their first child after age 30 may have an increased risk of breast cancer.
  12. Having never been pregnant: Women who have never been pregnant have a greater risk of breast cancer than do women who have had one or more pregnancies.
  13. Postmenopausal hormone therapy: Women who take hormone therapy medications that combine estrogen and progesterone to treat the signs and symptoms of menopause have an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer decreases when women stop taking these medications.
  14. Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco: Drinking alcohol and smoking increases the risk of breast cancer.

In summary, Risks factors can be;

Modifiable (These you can control)

  • Food(unhealthy diet) - Eat a healthy meal at all times
  • Alcohol consumption - Reduce alcohol intake
  • Smoking - Avoid smoking
  • Obesity - Maintain a healthy body weight
  • Radiations - Avoid exposure to radiations. Wear protective clothing while exposed
  • Sedentary lifestyle(lack of exercise)-exercise regularly

Non-modifiable (These you cannot control)

  • Age
  • Genetics (family history)
  • Gender, being female



Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include;

1. A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue

2. Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast

3. Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling

4. A newly inverted nipple

5. Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin

6. Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange

7. Breast or nipple pain

8. Swelling of all or part of the nipple

9. Abnormal secretions


How to reduce the risks and prevention of breast cancer.

  • Women should perform Breast Self-Examination once in a month, a week after their period. Post menopausal women can do it on a specific date of the month.
  • Get screened, a clinical breast examination can be done by your doctor or nurse. This is done to know if it is normal as well as know if there is a genetic history or not. Periodic checks can be scheduled based on the findings.
  • Do not ignore any lump,node or abnormal changes in the breast. Contact and communicate the findings to your health care provider.
  • Women above 40years should get a mammography done once in a year.
  • Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day, if you choose to drink.
  • Stay physically active,exercise most days of the week. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. 
  • Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy and control pills.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. If your weight is healthy, work to maintain that weight. If you need to lose weight, ask your doctor about healthy strategies to accomplish this. Reduce the number of calories you eat each day and slowly increase the amount of exercise.
  • Choose a healthy diet. Eat more of plant based foods,vegetables and fruits should be included in the meal.
  • Avoid or Quit Smoking
  • Avoid exposure to radiations and wear protective clothing while exposed. Eg lead jackets
  • Breastfeeding of babies
  • Find out about family history concerning the condition.



How to perform Breast Self-Examination(BSE)

 


Adult women should perform Breast Self-Examination once in a month, a week after their period. Post menopausal women can do it on a specific date of the month looking out for the following changes;

1. Size or shape of the breast

2. Any discharge from the nipple

3. Skin and nipple appearance

Do not ignore any lump,node or abnormal changes in the breast.

Contact and communicate the findings to your health care provider.


Treatment of Breast Cancer

Treatment depends on the stage of cancer. It may consist of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

The use of prosthetics(Synthetic breast pads) is very effective after surgery.



Let's not stigmatize them, let's support Breast Cancer Survivors.

#Earlydetectionsaveslives

Nurse Emefa Anet
Efa Care - Your Health, Your Wealth...
efacare101@gmail.com
0241102402/0205223696

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