Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells of female and male breast tissue. Breast cancer is more common in women, but men do get breast cancer as well.
Breast Cancer Facts
Usually, the first sign of breast cancer is a lump in the breast. Everyone, especially women, is advised to regularly check their breasts for lumps and bumps to catch it early if they are unfortunate enough to get breast cancer. Finding a lump in the breast is usually the first thing women do before they go for a check with the doctor.
After a lump has been felt, a doctor/physician will do a common mammogram and will then be able to confirm whether or not it is in fact breast cancer. Lumps are not always fund in the breast, they can also be found in what is known as the lymph nodes that can be found in the collarbone or the armpits.
Symptoms of Cancer
There are other ways to look out for breast cancer other than looking for a lump. Keeping an eye out on changes in the breast shape or size can also be an indication in some cases. Some women have had skin dimpling, nipple discharge and nipple inversion as signs of breast cancer.
Whether you end up getting breast cancer later in life can be determined or factored by certain hereditary and environmental factors. Here are some of the factors that may determine who may get breast cancer over other people:
Genetic mutations such as high level exposure of estrogens.
· Inherited DNA defects
While these can show us some pattern towards those that get breast cancer, it certainly doesn’t rule out every woman in the world. The age, sex, hormones, alcohol habit, smoking habit, obesity, high fat diets, radiation and other factors may make you more at risk of breast cancer.
Mammography checks have now become a routine procedure in many countries as this is simply the easiest and the quickest way to determine whether or not a woman has breast cancer.
It is usually around the age of 40 or 50 when women are invited to have regular screening appointments. Some women still choose not to go, even though these screenings save lives and reduce the risk of not surviving breast cancer. The earlier that breast cancer is caught, the easier it is to treat.
Breast cancer is a big fear throughout every woman’s life. Support will always be necessary if you find out you have breast cancer. There are many fantastic support groups usually set up by women who are suffering or who have already been through it and won. These support groups are vital for breast cancer information and to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
It is important to understand what is going to happen to you if you do have breast cancer. You can find this out from your doctor, but there is nothing better than hearing it from someone who has or is going through it themselves.