Creating Breast Cancer Awareness

Have you ever noticed a lump in your breast? If yes, don’t ever feel shy to get it checked by a doctor. Who knows? You might be suffering from breast cancer. One must be breast aware by regularly checking the changes that occur in breast with time. It can be cured if diagnosed in its early stage.

Breast cancer awareness is very poor in people, especially in women. Women are most vulnerable to breast cancer, however it is also found in men (although it occurs in rare cases). As per the research, it is the seventh leading cause of death in the US. Developing breast cancer awareness through education and mammograms can reduce the percentage of this disease in women to a major extent.

In scientific terms, breast cancer refers to the malignant growth that occurs in the tissue of a breast. Either it originates in the cells of the lobules, the milk producing glands or, in the ducts, the passages through which milk flows from the lobules to the nipple. Sometimes, breast cancer can also originate from the stromal tissues, which entail the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast.

Over a certain period of time, these cancer cells can also affect the healthy breast along with the underarm lymph nodes that help to clear out the foreign substances in the body. Affecting lymph nodes, they can easily spread to other parts of the body. This is probably considered to be the last stage of breast cancer. The stages of breast cancer are decided on the basis of how far the cancer cells have spread.

Breast cancer is mainly caused due to genetic abnormality. In 5-10% cases, it occurs due to abnormality transmitted from your mother or father. But in 90% cases, it happens due to genetic irregularities with ageing process and depreciation being the main reason. According to the research carried out by the experts, women have around 13% lifetime risk of having breast cancer. However, an individual’s risk may be higher or lower than this. Individual risk depends on several factors like family history, reproductive history, way of living, environment and so on.

It is difficult to blame any one reason for the cause of this disease. Risk factors like age, family history, and reproductive history are beyond our check and control. But risk factors like weight, physical activity, eating and drinking habits can be kept under check. This disease can be kept at bay by keeping the body as fit and healthy as possible. Breast cancer awareness can be improved by developing healthy eating habits and not indulging into smoking or drinking.

Improved treatments for breast cancer are coming up and the survival rates are also getting better than before. Early diagnosis and relevant medical treatment are proving vital in curing the disease.