How to Faith, Hope and Cure: Fight breast cancer

Breast Cancer is the leading cause of cancers in women followed by lung and colon cancer in the world. It is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. There is a lifetime risk of 1 in 12 women developing breast cancer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Breast Cancer Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancers in women followed by lung and colon
   cancer in the world. It is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. There is a lifetime risk of 1 in 12 women developing breast cancer. Risk increases with the number of first degree relatives affected. The older the individual, the risk for developing cancer rises. Age is the biggest risk factor. Today the frequency of detection of breast cancer cases is steadily increasing and fortunately being taken care of in the early stages of the disease. This is because of public awareness, annual physicals, mammography followed by biopsy for suspicious lesions and follow up lumpectomy or excisions with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation.
   
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   here are several risk factors for breast cancer: a personal or family history of breast cancer, a nulliparous woman or women on prolonged hormonal therapy, early menstruation or late menopause. People with a lifestyle of being obese, smoking, drinking and stress are at increased risk too.
   
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   ost of the breast cancers are sporadic and only 5% are familial. The ones which have a familial predisposition present in the younger age group and are associated with many syndromes and cancers. BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the ones most often mentioned and discussed. A family screening in those high-risk individuals is advised.
   The common symptoms to watch out for breast pain, lumps, nipple changes and cysts in the breast. A monthly self-breast examination is encouraged. An annual physical checkup with routine mammography started at the age of 45 years is recommended.
   When a mass is palpable or the patient is over 45 years old, she gets a routine mammogram. A mammogram is a special X-ray of the breast. Routine mammography screening appears to reduce breast cancer mortality by approximately 25%. When suspicious masses or micro calcifications are seen on a mammogram, a biopsy or fine needle aspiration is obtained and sent to the pathologist for a tissue diagnosis. The pathologist assesses whether there is cancer present. A follow-up excision of the mass is undertaken and then the pathologist looks for whether the tumor is invasive or not, whether the tumor is removed entirely and gives a “stage” to the cancer after careful examining the lymph nodes.
2. Various treatment options are available. There are advanced chemotherapy and radiations available to get the cancer in check and usually have a good prognosis if detected early. Depending on the age, weight, menopausal status, type of cancer, the stage of cancer, the size of cancer and the lymph node involvement and also based on various prognostic markers, the treatment for the patient is tailored individually. Treatments for early breast cancer can include lumpectomy (limited surgery which removes the cancer but not the entire breast) followed by radiation therapy, or breast reconstruction after mastectomy (surgical removal of the breast.) Additional treatment may include chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
   
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   en can also get breast cancer though the numbers are much less. A firm mass in an elderly individual should be dealt with suspicion unless it is a case of gynecomastia, which is benign. Male breast cancer accounts for 1% of all diagnosed breast cancer.
3. Breast Cancer Pin Advice:
   1. See a doctor if you notice any change in the breast.
   2. Do a monthly self-breast examination.
   3. Get an annual physical examination by your physician
   4. Ask for screening mammograms if you are over 45 years old.