Can you feel anything in your breast or is it beginning to look unusual? Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in women and it is said that one out of 39 women will die of breast cancer.
The purpose of breast cancer awareness month is not only to reach and sensitise women but men also. The entire month of October is focused on pushing the breast cancer awareness campaign to promote the prevention of breast cancer and support for people still fighting the disease as well as celebrate breast cancer survivors.
Do you know that men can also have breast cancer? Yes, Men do have breast cancer although women are more at risk of developing breast cancer than men.
According to the CDC, one of every 100 breast cancer diagnoses in the USA, is a man. Although men don’t have large breasts like women, they still have some breast tissue and that’s where breast cancer starts from.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
As always, early detection can save a life, that’s why individuals are advised to observe their bodies and look out for changes in the breast or other surrounding areas. You can conduct a self-examination of your breasts no matter how big or small they are.
How to conduct a self-examination.
- Lay down facing upward then place one arm just underneath your head then use your three middle fingers and circle around each breast. Slowly press around the breast and under your arm in search of lumps or any strange mass.
- Another self-examination is by standing or sitting in front of the mirror with your top clothing off and looking at both breasts to see if there’s any difference in both of them. Observe the colours of the nipples, the size i.e is one bigger than the other? Then put your hands on your hips and turn to each side, also lean forward with your hands still on your waist and lastly, raise both hands up. The aim is to find any lumps while making these moves. If there’s any unusual protrusion you will see it.
The best time for women to conduct this breast self-examination is a few days after the menstrual cycle, every month and post-menopause women can examine themselves at any time of the month.
Symptoms of breast cancer
Whenever you self-examine, these are the things you should look out for, or whenever you observe these on your body or someone else’s, you should quickly see your doctor even if you are not sure, let your doctor be the one to say it’s a false alarm.
- A lump or swelling in the breast, armpit or upper chest.
- Change in colour, like redness in the breast or inflammation.
- A change in the skin texture, some dimpling or puckering.
- Unusual discharge from the breast, whitish substance or blood-like.
- Recurring pain in the armpit and the surrounding area.
- Change in the size of one breast larger or smaller.
- A weird inverted or pulled-in look on the nipple.
- Rash around the nipple.
Risk factors for breast cancer
The exact cause of cancer is not known, we only know that it begins when a gene mutates and begins to corrupt new cells. If only there was something like a vaccine that could prevent people from ever having cancer or a cure for cancer, it would have been elating but sadly there’s no vaccine and cure. Thankfully lots of survivors have gone through several treatments that work. Knowing the risk factors for cancer can help reduce your chances of developing it.
- Overweight and Obesity
- Family history
- Excess alcohol intake
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Age
You cannot avoid ageing, neither can you change your genetics or family history but every other thing that is within your ability and reach, do it to reduce your risk.
Eat healthy foods; add lots of fruits and vegetables and also find foods that fight cancer.
exercise as often as possible; go to the gym, take long walks,
breastfeed if you have a baby; breastfeeding is both beneficial to mother and newborn.
How can you be a part of breast cancer awareness month?
When one person develops cancer or dies of cancer, it affects multiple people emotionally, financially and in other ways possible. So, make it a duty to encourage your mothers, sisters and friends to self-examine themselves for breast cancer and also schedule a yearly mammogram screening. This even finds lumps before the eyes and fingers can detect it. You can also show support by donating to cancer care foundations to help cancer patients and fund researchers to find a cure in the nearest future. Be a part of cancer awareness programmes, wear pink to identify with the month.
One win over cancer is a win for all, early detection saves lives.