Breast Cancer Signs & Symptoms
Breast cancer remains a leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society's 2007 figures, more than 40,000 women succumb to the disease each year. However, early detection has increased a woman's chance of survival dramatically over the last two decades; breast cancer is not the death sentence it once was. Understanding your own body and the observable signs of breast cancer are powerful tools against the felling power of this devastating disease.
Causes
A cancer that forms in the tissues, ducts and glands of the breast, breast cancer is a worldwide killer of women and, to a much lesser extent, men. While there is ongoing speculation and research regarding its causes, several factors seem to contribute to the likelihood of the disease's occurrence. A woman who has previously had the disease is more likely to develop it again. Even a woman who has had benign breast changes may be more likely to contract the disease. Also high on the list of considerations is family history. A woman with first-degree relatives (mother, sister, daughter) who have had the disease is more likely to also develop it, and the younger the age at which the relatives contracted it seems to increase a woman's odds of getting it. Other considerations are the age at which she first started menstruating (the younger the age, the more likely the occurrence), and the age at which she stopped (the older, the more likely). Women who have not borne children may be more likely to develop the cancer, and women who have begun some form of hormone replacement therapy at menopause may also see an increased likelihood of developing the disease. Other risk factors are obesity, prior radiation treatments or exposure, excessive alcohol consumption and poor diet or exercise habits.
Symptoms and Signs
For every woman who felt the tell-tale "lump," there are many who say they felt nothing or saw nothing until their health care professional brought the problem to their attention. Younger women, in particular, may not identify a lump because their breast tissue tends to be denser. As a rule, change that is occurring to your breasts that you cannot connect to your monthly cycle should be checked further. More specifically, outward symptoms that you should not ignore are: discharge from the nipple; changes in the look of the nipple, areola or breast skin; a change in how the nipple or breast feels; pain not linked to the menstrual cycle, or any lump on or near the breast, armpit or collar bone.
Self-Examination
Breast self-exams are the first tool in a woman's arsenal of early cancer detection. First take a visual assessment of your breasts to note any changes. Then, using the pads of your fingers, feel for lumps and changes in and around the breast. The cancer website listed in "Additional Resources," below, gives step-by-step instructions for self-evaluation. The procedure is recommended for all women over 20.
Detection
Screening mammograms are X-rays used to assess healthy breast tissue for warning signs of cancer. Women older than 40 should include mammograms as part of their annual checkups. Additionally, women who have discovered abnormalities on their own or with the aide of their doctor will likely be directed to a mammogram for further assessment. Mammograms are an indispensable tool in the early detection of breast cancer. They are not, however, perfect, and do not detect all cancers. Also, like any X-ray procedure, they are dependent upon the technician administering and reading the results of the tests.
Confirmation
If a mammogram points toward a developing lump, a biopsy may be necessary to determine whether or not the growth is cancerous. There are three different types of biopsies--fine needle, core needle and surgical--but they all involve extracting a portion of the suspicious tissue for further examination and evaluation.
Genetic Testing
While only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are hereditary, some women in a high-risk population opt for genetic testing to determine whether they have the breast cancer genes. Mutations in breast cancer genes one and two (BRCA 1, BRCA 2) appear to increase the likelihood of women developing the disease by 3 to 5 percent. Additionally, women with altered BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 genes may be at a higher risk for ovarian cancer. While the genetic testing procedure is a simple blood test and then genetic analysis, the full testing is quite expensive and may not be covered by health insurance.
Considerations
A healthy lifestyle of proper diet, exercise and regular trips to your health care professional can keep you on the right track to prevention and early detection of all diseases. Particularly with fast-moving cancers, it is important to get periodic checkups. If you do develop cancer, it is also important that your body is in its best physical shape to fight off the disease. Remarkable strides have been made in the battle against breast cancer, and being armed with knowledge and good pre-cancer health sets you up for full success against this formidable opponent.
Tags: more likely, breast cancer, early detection, Additionally women, breast cancer
