The ManicaPost
AS the whole world join hands to fight breast cancer this October, we also up our efforts in educating people about the disease, including early identification and its signs and symptoms.
Pink Month has been set aside worldwide to raise awareness on the most common cancer among women worldwide.
According to the World Health Organisation, every year, breast cancer kills more than 500 000 women around the world.
Experts say survival for breast cancer is generally good, particularly if you are diagnosed early, hence the need to know the signs and symptoms.
In normal circumstances, body cells divide, grow and multiply in an orderly and controlled way as the body needs them to keep the body healthy.
When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new ones.
However, sometimes this orderly process goes wrong.
When this happens, cells do not die when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them.
When these cells continue to multiply, they result is a mass of tissue or growth, also called a tumour.
Breast cancer is a cancerous tumour which occurs in the breast(s) of both males and females.
Survival depends on many different factors, including the type and stage of cancer and level of fitness, among other things.
The outlook depends on the stage of the cancer when it is diagnosed, how big it is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.
Experts say 90 percent of early stage breast cancers are curable, often with treatments that conserve the breast.
When the cancer is discovered on Stage One, most patients (almost 100 percent) will survive it.
However, chances of survival get much slimmer at Stage Four where about 25 percent will survive.
This is why it is crucial for people to self-examine once a month for any early signs, to visit their doctor regularly, and to get mammography periodically.
In examining oneself, one needs to look out for changes in the size, shape, or contour of the breast, blood-stained or clear fluid discharge from the nipple, as well as change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple.
A lump in or near the breast that persists through the menstrual cycle should also be a cause for concern.
The risk of getting breast cancer increases if one is over forty years of age, has a family history of breast cancer, smokes and drinks alcohol, eats a diet high in animal fat and low in fibre, has had cancer previously in one breast, and constantly endures high stress levels, among other things.
While you can’t change some risk factors, such as getting older or your family history, you can help lower your risk of breast cancer by taking care of your health and being physically active.
You can also choose not to drink alcohol, or drink in moderation.
Staying healthy will lower your risk of developing cancer and improve your chances of surviving cancer if it occurs.
