BREAST cancer is the second most common cancer in Indian women. The incidence is more in urban than rural women. It is more prevalent in the higher socio-economic groups. The average incidence rate varies from 22-28 per 100,000 women per year in urban settings to 6 per 100,000 women per year in rural areas. You must have seen that television advertisement in which where daughter writes letter to her mom, asking her mom to go for breast cancer checkup. The ad was simply amazing and had powerful impact on the audience. People now realize that even breast cancer is an equally important disease like Aids.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a kind of tumor that develops in the cells of a person’s breast. One may think that only women get breast cancer but that’s not true. Even men have breast tissues, so men too can get it, though it is very rare.
Causes of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is far more common in women than in men. Some women are at a particularly higher risk. 75% of women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors.
- With age’ risk of breast cancer increases.
- Family history of breast cancer i.e. women whose mother, grandmothers, aunts or sisters have developed breast cancer, are at an increased risk.
- Women, who previously had breast cancer, have a slightly higher chance of having breast cancer in the other breast.
- Women who started their periods (menses) at an earlier age (before 12 years).
- Delayed childbearing, women who did not breast-feed their infants, or those who never had children.
- Late menopause (after 50 years)
- Obesity
- Diet rich in animal fat
It is very important to do breast cancer checkup after the age 40years. One can do it annually every year as part of annual health checkup
When to seek Doctor’s Help
Following are the symptoms which needs doctors help:
- A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm areas
- A change in size or shape of the breast
- A change in the color or feel of the skin of the breast
- A discharge from the nipple
- Inversion or turning in of the nipple
Some of these symptoms may also be caused by diseases that aren’t cancer, so getting it diagnosed is the only way to check what is the cause of these symptoms. Diagnosis have to be done by doctor only, you cannot ignored any of the above signs.
Ways to Check Breast Cancer at Home
Following are the ways to examine the breasts at home. You can share this with your mom and check it at home. It is always better to start early rather than being late
- Use the left hand for the right breast and right hand for the left. Apply firm pressure and make small circles as you go back or forth in a pattern covering all the breast area including the nipple.
- Stand in front of a mirror and look at each breast separately. Note the size, shape, color, curve and direction of your breasts and nipples. Look if there are any changes in size, change in the texture of the skin.
- Raise your arms over your head and look at your breasts, as you turn slowly from side to side and also look if there is any kind of swelling around the breast.
- Lean forward and examine each breast for change in outline.
- Now, lying down, using the pads of your three middle fingertips feel for any lumps or bumpy areas.
- Extend your examination till underarm area, feel each part carefully until you felt all the parts of the breast.
- Change your hand and repeat the same procedure on the other breast.
Early detection tests for breast cancer can save thousands of lives and many more could be saved if they don’t ignore the awareness about it.
