Introduction of Breast Cancer

Inspired with the month of Breast Cancer Awareness, I decided to write a series about breast cancer research. I will start off with some information on this cancer research in this post. By then, do you know any risk factors that we need to pay attention to? Any prevention step to deal with it?

Firstly, we have to know what the breast cancer exactly is. According to the current cancer research, we can describe that it is an invasive cancer that arises through a series of molecular alterations that occur at the cell level, and consequently causing the uncontrollable growth and spread of breast epithelial cells. This type of cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in most of the countries. Early detection and the recent more effective therapies had led to significant reductions in this cancer related deaths. However, breast cancer remains a major cause of death. Some of the authorities start to worry about the increasing rates of this type of cancer worldwide especially among previously low-risk regions and low-risk populations. This is a particularly worrisome trend as most of these regions are limited with the access of screening and effective therapies. Therefore, prevention of invasive breast cancer remains a major global public health priority.

Like most of the other cancers, once this cancer has been detected there is already the chance that the disease has spread to adjacent cells. Conventional medicine stages the disease based on certain factors like tumor size, involvement of lymph node or distal spread. The suggested treatment depends on the stages of the this type of cancer.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

There are many signs and symptoms of this cancer. It is important that women to be aware of the signs. We can check ourselves whether there are the signs of this kind of cancer.

a) Lumps or thickening in the breast or armpit area

b) Changes in the skin in the breast or armpit area, e.g. dimpling, redness or puckering.

c) Changes in nipple, e.g. a change in the direction or an unusual discharge

d) Changes around the nipple, e.g. an unusual rash or sore area.

e) Changes to the shape and size of the breast

f) Unusual pain or discomfort

If someone discovered that he or she has such symptoms, the person should report to the doctor for further diagnosis. Although it is very rare for men to have breast cancer, there is still possible to occur. Thus, be aware to these kinds of symptoms always. Cancer research on breast cancer is still going on to look through more treatment that can be used.

Do you know that breast cancer is the most commonly cancer diagnosed according to cancer research? Did you and your beloved go for body checking frequently?