The month of October is the official breast cancer awareness month.
Breast cancer is more common in women older than 40 years old. In women from 40 to 50 years old, there is a possibility of risk of one in sixty-eight. In women from 50 to 60 years old, there is a possibility of risk of one in forty-two. In women from 60 to 70, there is a possibility of risk of one in twenty-eight. In women 70 years old or older, there is a possibility of one in twenty-six having breast cancer.
It is important to know the basic information of this cancer due to its frequency in women. Breast cancer commonly starts in the ducts where the milk goes through before coming out from the mother’s breast. These will start presenting some eggs or cells that lead to a type of cancer called invasive ductal carcinoma.
Furthermore, there are several usual signs or symptoms to be aware of, such as:
A lump in the breast or underarm.
Signs of swelling or thickening in some parts of the breast.
Irritation, dimpling on breast skin.
In the area of the nipple, signs of irritation or flaky skin.
Pain in the nipple or breast area.
Any type of discharge from the nipple, not breast milk.
Change in size or shape of the breast.
However, there are ways to prevent breast cancer and many other types of diseases, such as: limiting the ingestion of alcohol, having a healthy weight, and being physically active. In the case of pregnant women or new mothers, it is very important to breastfeed for a long time because, during the period of breast milk production, their ovaries do not supply eggs as often and nursing provides them with a hormone that will help the uterus go back to its previous state.
Bibliography
Breast Cancer: Statistics. (2021, January). American Society of Clinical Oncology. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer/statistics
Breast cancer in women. (n.d.). National Health Service. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer/