By BobbieJo Paul, FNP, Provider/Health Coach, ATI Active Care
October is the month when you will start to see pink everywhere to celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Awareness of any disease or illness is the first step toward prevention, detection, treatment, and hopefully a cure.
Breast cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the breast tissue. While more common in women, breast cancer can develop in men as well.
What should you look for?
With breast cancer being the second leading cause of death in women, it is important to know the signs.
- Breast or nipple looks or feels different:
- Change in size/shape
- New lump/swelling
- Change of color/redness
- Dimpling/puckeringnew itchy, scaly sore or rash
- Abnormal discharge
- Pain that doesn’t go away (pain is rare with cancer, but it still should be checked if the pain persists)
What can you do to reduce your risk?
Approximately 40,000 women and 400 men die each year from cancer, but there are steps that can be taken to reduce your risk:
- Become active/exercise
- Eat a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables; limit saturated fats
- Reduce weight or maintain a healthy weight
- Reduce or refrain from alcohol use
- Avoid unnecessary radiation exposure
- Check with your provider if hormone replacement therapy places you at increased risk
What are the known genetic risks?
It is still unknown why some people are more likely to develop breast cancer, but there are some known genetic risks that include:
- Sex – A woman is 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than a man
- Age – Risk increases over the age of 55
- Race – Being Caucasian increases risk to develop breast cancer
- Family history – If mom, dad, or a sibling had/has breast cancer, you are more at risk
- Personal history – If you’ve had a history of abnormal (non-cancer) cells or dense breast tissue
- Early Menses – Starting before the age of 12, or late menopause that is after the age of 55
- Children – Waiting to have a child when older or not having any children
- Genome – A specific genome change (BRCA1 and BRCA2)
How can I monitor for breast cancer?
Monitoring for breast cancer includes self-breast exams and mammograms. See your provider for annual physicals and talk about your breast health to determine when a mammogram should be done for screening. There are other breast issues that can develop, including benign (non-cancer) masses or infections. If you notice any unusual changes, have your provider evaluate to determine if the change is benign or needs further workup. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat.
For more information about Breast Cancer you can go to: www.nationalbreastcancer.org, www.komen.org, or www.cancer.org