The most common form of cancer in women - which affects about 10% of the world's
female population - is still
the second most common cause
of cancer deaths in women. about
20% of all breast cancer cases
ending in death. This form of
cancer is the one considered
to have the most serious psychological
effects on women. Some specialists
say that it happens because
this form cancer affects what
most women consider to be their
symbol of femininity: the breast.
Depression is often diagnosed
in women who have breast cancer,
which makes the treatment even
harder.
Risk factors:
Many factors are considered
to be the possible causes of
breast cancer. Contrary to what
many people may think, breast
cancer also affects men, in
smaller proportions - about
1 case in 1000.
Here are some factors considered
to be involved in the development
of breast cancer:
Age:
One thing is for sure about
breast cancer: the risks increase
with age . Statistics show that
for a woman who lives to the
age of 90, the risk of getting
breast cancer is about 12,5%
(or 1 in 8) . However, it's
not impossible for young women
to have breast cancer and when
it happens, the cancer tends
to be more aggressive. This
is inflammatory breast cancer,
difficult to detect because
it does not appear in mammography
or ultrasound and is often mistaken
for mastitis, a simple breast
infection .
Genes:
Familial breast cancer is
rare (less than 5%), but it
can happen and it was found
to be linked to two different
genes. Although this is not
a high risk factor for breast
cancer, women who have cases
of breast cancer among their
relatives should have tests
more often.
Hormones:
The International Agency for
Research on Cancer found that
women who take combined estrogen-progestogen
contraceptives and combined
estrogen-progestogen menopausal
therapy were at increased risk.
Symptoms and diagnosis:
Earlier found, better chances
of survival. This is the statement
that summarizes the cure for
breast cancer and it only makes
more important the medical advice
that says that women should
have a complete check up, including
a mammogram and an ultrasound,
once a year, especially once
they reach their 30s or 40s.
A self-examination of the breasts
should be done monthly. Any
sign of nodules or lumps found
by the woman while doing her
self-exam must be taken into
account. Most women think that
these lumps have something to
do with their periods and in
many cases they do, but they
can also signify the presence
of a tumor and that's why the
doctor must be told as soon
as possible . The symptoms vary
from woman to woman. Some have
lumps and some don't. Some women
have a white or light-yellow
secretion "leaking" from the
nipple, some women feel that
their breast is tender and swollen.
There are those women who feel
nothing and these are the most
dangerous cases . The self-exam
and the mammogram once a year
are the best ways to diagnose
breast cancer. If something
is found by self-examination,
regardless of whether the woman
had already had a mammogram
that year, another should be
done.
Treatment:
Medicine has improved a lot
in the past few years and the
treatments for breast cancer
have become more powerful and
effective . There are different
options for treatment of breast
cancer and doctors can choose
the correct one by taking into
account the overall health of
the woman affected: - Local
or Regional Treatments are directed
right to the breast and also
to the lymph nodes around the
breast. - Systemic Treatments
are directed to the whole body.
- Alternative and Holistic Treatments
are important to the person
because they include not only
the body, but also the mind
and spirit as well. In spite
of that, the best treatment
is no treatment at all, in other
words, prevention.
