Breast Cancer | Need Early Diagnosis | Need Awareness

Are you aware of Breast Cancer? To fight against breast cancer, mammography and other forms of early detection are necessary. To raise awareness, the media, cancer survivors, and many governments have recognized the month of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

In modern Western countries, the pink color is considered feminine. A ribbon of pink color symbolizes breast cancer awareness. It has been using since 1991.

A new lump or mass is the most common symptom of breast cancer. Staging of breast cancer helps plan the treatment. To classify stage, there are several ways. Among them, TNM system is widely used. Here, T for Tumor size, N for Lymph Node status and M for Metastases.

Surgery, Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy, Hormone therapy, and Targeted therapy are the treatment methods of breast cancer. The main goals of treatment are to eliminate cancer from the body as much as possible and to prevent the disease from coming back.

Breast cancer survival rates depend on the diagnosis. The survival rate is higher if it is diagnosed at the early stages. Many factors are related to the survival rates. According to the American Cancer Society, Cancer survival rates don't tell the whole story.

In the United States, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women is breast cancer which is the second most leading cause of death among women. Every year more than 250,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer there. According to the World Health Organization, it is breast cancer which is the most common cancer among women all over the world.

Breast cancer blogs provide educational information, breakthroughs, and support regularly. Some leading blogs are:

• Breastcancer.org
• Cancerwise
• Living Beyond Breast Cancer
• Rethink Breast Cancer
• The Breast Cancer Charities of America
• Nancy's Point
• Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer
• Sharsheret
• Let Life Happen
• Detrice Matthews

The exact causes of breast cancer are unknown. According to nationalbreastcancer.org, Doctors seldom know why one woman develops breast cancer and another doesn't. Just it is known that breast cancer is caused by the damage of cell's DNA.

Researchers have identified that hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors increase the risk of breast cancer. Some risk factors which are associated with breast cancer include:

• Being female
• Increasing age
• A personal history of breast conditions
• A personal history of breast cancer
• A family history of breast cancer
• Inherited genes that increase cancer risk
• Radiation exposure
• Obesity
• Beginning your period at a younger age
• Beginning menopause at an older age
• Having your first child at an older age
• Having never been pregnant
• Postmenopausal hormone therapy
• Drinking alcohol.

It is not obvious but some changes in lifestyle may help reduce the risk of your breast cancer. mayoclinic.org suggest you to:

• Ask your doctor about breast cancer screening.
• Become familiar with your breasts through breast self-exam for breast awareness.
• Exercise most days of the week.
• Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Choose a healthy diet.

Source of Information: Wikipedia, ww5.komen.org, webmd.com, cancer.org, nationalbreastcancer.org,
mayoclinic.org