Copyright 2005 Anne WolskiBreast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women
and the leading cause of cancer deaths.
Every woman's breasts are different so it is important for
each individual woman to be familiar with her breasts in
order to recognize any peculiarities.
Unfortunately, the early stages of breast cancer may not
have any symptoms. This is why it is important to follow
screening recommendations. As a tumor grows in size, it can
produce a variety of symptoms including:
* lump or thickening in the breast or underarm * change in
size or shape of the breast * nipple discharge or nipple
turning inward * redness or scaling of the skin or nipple *
ridges or pitting of the breast skin
If you experience these symptoms, it doesn't necessarily
mean you have breast cancer, but you need to be examined by
a doctor.
Breast cancer is very rare before age 20 and is rarely
diagnosed in women younger than age 25. Past that age, the
incidence rises steadily to reach a peak around the age of
menopause. The rate of increase is lessened after
menopause, but older women are still at increasing risk
over time.
Although a specific cause for breast cancer has not been
identified, there are risk factors that increase the
likelihood that a woman will develop a breast cancer. These
risks include:
* Maternal relative with breast cancer. * Women who start
their menstruation early and/or go into early menopause,
increasing the length of reproductive years, are at greater
risk. * Obesity. Women who are overweight are at increased
risk * Women who have never had children are at greater
risk. * Women who had their first child over age 30 are at
greater risk. * Previous breast cancer. * Previous
endometrial cancer.
Aside from the genetic predisposition, the common factor in
many of these risks is increased endogenous estrogen
exposure over a long time.
It is recommended that women over 35 check their breasts
monthly. However, it is also important that all women do
regular breast checks. Your doctor can show you how to
effectively check your breasts. Any lump, regardless of
size, should be reported to your doctor. Many of these
lumps are simply fatty lumps or cysts but it is far better
to be safe than sorry.
Catching breast cancer early makes a big difference in the
type of treatment needed as well as the overall prognosis.
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Anne Wolski has worked within the health and welfare
industry for more than 30 years. To see many great
health-related resources, go to
http://www.magnetic-health-online.com
