Breast Cancer: Causes and Symptoms

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in females worldwide. It accounts for 16% of all female cancers and 22.9% of invasive cancers in women. 18.2% of all cancer deaths worldwide, including both males and females, are from breast cancer.

Symptoms of breast cancer

A symptom is only felt by the patient, and is described to the doctor or nurse, such as a headache or pain.

A sign is something the patient and others can detect, for example, a rash or swelling. The first symptoms of breast cancer are usually an area of thickened tissue in the woman’s breast, or a lump. The majority of lumps are not cancerous; however, women should get them checked by a health care professional.

Women who detect any of the following signs or symptoms should tell their doctor:

*.A lump in a breast
*.A pain in the armpits or breast that does not seem to be related to the woman’s menstrual period
*.Pitting or redness of the skin of the breast; like the skin of an orange
*.A rash around (or on) one of the Tips
*.A swelling (lump) in one of the armpits
*.An area of thickened tissue in a breast
*.One of the Tips has a discharge; sometimes it may contain blood
*.The Tip changes in appearance; it may become sunken or inverted
*.The size or the shape of the breast changes
*.The Tip-skin or breast-skin may have started to peel, scale or flake.

Causes of breast cancer?

*.Getting older
*.Genetics
*.A history of breast cancer
*.Having had certain types of breast lumps
*.Dense breast tissue
*.Estrogen exposure
*.Obesity
*.Height
*.Alcohol consumption
*.Radiation exposure
*.HRT (hormone replacement therapy)
*.Certain jobs: Examples include bar/gambling, automotive plastics manufacturing, metal-working, food canning and agriculture.
*.Cosmetic implants may undermine breast cancer survival

How to prevent breast cancer

Some lifestyle changes can help significantly reduce a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer:

*.Alcohol consumption- Moderation means no more than one alcoholic drink per day.
*.Physical exercise
*.Diet- some experts say that women who follow a healthy, well-balanced diet may reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
*.Postmenopausal hormone therapy
*.Bodyweight- women who have a healthy bodyweight have a considerably lower chance of developing breast cancer compared to obese and overweight females.
*.Breast cancer screening
*.Breastfeeding.

Prevention is better than cure!