Your Breast and Cancer

Greetings to all on this great platform. At the mention of breast, some think sex, others think breastfeeding but in October when we mention breast, we seek to talk about breast cancer. October is breast cancer awareness month. The colour is pink

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Everyone has breasts, yes everyone. Growing up I only thought breast was just a female body part. Males have breast too. We often relate breasts to females because it is more prominent in females than men.

How does the breast so useful and beautifully adored come down with Cancer?

I remember some terrible moments in childhood on bicycles. When you're descending a hill on a bicycle, a motor cycle or in a car, your only safe guards are your breaks. If the breaks fail you, the bicycle or car now controls you. The end of a failed break is usually unpredictable and dangerous.

Same happens in breast cancer, where the cells in the breast refuse to respond to the body control mechanism of creating more cells(cell division). Like a bicycle with failed breaks, the cells of the breast multiply, move and increase in number at a self controlled higher rate. This creates a mass tissue in the breast called tumor. These tumors can either remain where they are formed or move (metastasize) to other body parts causing even more harm.

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Who is exempted from Breast Cancer
It's unfortunate no one is immune to breast cancer. Both males and females can have breast cancer but it occurs more is females. It is sad to note that breast cancer is the most life threatening of all the cancers in women worldwide. Among all the cancers in women, breast cancer is number one in terms of causing death(mortality)

Some risk factors of Breast cancer
Once you have an idea of who is at risk, you can advice your mum, sister, wive, fiancee or yourself on what to do. Especially with those factors that are modifiable. Let's walk through some of them

1. Age
   How old are you? If you are less than 40years, it is uncommon for you to have breast cancer but it is relatively common is our women who are 40years or more.

2. Family history
   So if Jennifer's mother or sister is affected with breast cancer. Jennifer is at increased risk of having one in her lifetime. This applies to first-degree relatives not long/extended family members

3. Reproduction and hormones
   If a woman had an early onset of menstration or had their first pregnancy at old age, or do not have children even at an old age or cease menstration late, they are also at risk of breast cancer. The culprit is prolonged exposure to Sex hormones.

4. Previous history of breast cancer
   It is also sad to note that a woman who has had cancer in one breast is at risk of having same in the other breast

5. Obesity and sedentary lifestyle has also been associated with breast cancer

6. Lifestyle and environment

Alcohol consumption, Smoke from tobaccos (either active or passive exposure), carcinogens such as exposure radiations and pesticides have also been associated with breast cancer.

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What are the signs and symptoms to look out for

I must say that you may not see any signs and symptoms at the early stages of breast cancer development however the following should prompt to seek medical care

1. You notice a change in the size and shape of your breast
2. The skin on your breast appears to have several dimples or there is colour change in the skin around your breast
3. You have a lump or swelling in your armpit
4. Your nipple has moved inward or has developed some abnormalities
5. Blood stained breast discharge.

How do I really know it is breast cancer or something else

Your doctor can pick it up during your routine medical check ups or you will have to visit the hospital once you notice any of the above indicators. A diagnosis of breast cancer be made through

1. Clinical examination
2. Imaging techniques such as mammography, ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
3. Biopsy(Needle) - breast tissue would to taken investigation.

What treatment options are available

Depending on the type of breast cancer a woman develops, management may require;
Radiation therapy, Surgery or use of drugs/medications.

Worth Nothing
Self Breast examination together with clinical examination are simple and free services that can help in early detection and prevention of breast cancer.

Thank you for your time. Hope to come to you again soon on how to do a self breast examination. Let's keep the breast cancer awareness going. Enjoy your day. Thank you to @juzkid for helping me through this post