BREAST CANCER
Popstar Kylie Minogue, who underwent mastectomy last year, is credited with having brought about more breast cancaer awareness among women than any hospital handout. Other world famous celebs who have fought breast cancer include singer Sheryl Crow and Betty Ford. Closer home we have event manager Deveika Bhojwani. The stats: 1 in 60 in.the age group 30 to 65 in rural India and 1 in 30 in urban areas are victims. The condition is targeting younger and younger women — the number of under-30s has
doubled in the last decade.
You are in the danger zone if you
have a history of breast cancer on either side of your family. Three of more direct relations in two generations, ups the risk by 50 per cent.
- have menstruated before 12
- have menopaused after 55
- have postponed childbirth until after 30
- are childless
- have more than three drinks a day so your risk is doubled
- have not breastfed adequately
- are frankly overweight
- carry the BCRA1 and BCRA2 genes
Ominous Clues
- a lump in the breast or under the arm
- tenderness in the breast
- blood-stained discharge from the nipple
- scaliness, dimpling or puckering of the skin around the nipple
- inversion of nipple
- change in general contour of the breast.
Confirmation
First remember, not every breast lump is cancerous; 80% are benign. Even if it is cancerous the breast can be saved, with lumpectomy or segmentectomy or reconstruction.
- A suspicious mammogram can be rechecked with
- an ultrasonography, to distinguish between fluid- filled and solid lump
- FNAC, a needle biopsy under local anaesthesia to examine the cells under microscope
- a biopsy of the lump itself
A breast only needs to go if the tumour is near the breast wall or has started spreading, although there are women who opt for a mastectomy if they are at high risk, before any lumps emerge.
The fight back plan
- Get to know your breasts at 20. Examine them sequentially from the periphery inwards with your palm.
- Have a mammography regularly after 50.
- Exercise and eat healthy to keep your weight down and lower estrogen-levels.
- If you’re married, have your children before you hit 30. Breast feed as long as possible.
- A blood test will determine if you carry the BCRA1 and BCRA2 genes.
Washington: A new study has shown that postmenopausal women who take aspirin and other analgesics regularly have lower estrogen levels, which could contribute to a decreased risk of breast or ovarian cancer.
“We observed some significant inverse associations between concentrations of several estrogens and the use of aspirin, aspirin plus non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and all analgesics combined,” said Margaret A. Gates, Sc.D., research fellow at the Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
“Our results suggest that among postmenopausal women, regular users of aspirin and other analgesics may have lower estrogen levels than non-users,” Gates added.
Gates and colleagues examined the association between use of aspirin, NSAIDs and acetaminophen and concentrations of estrogens and androgens among 740 postmenopausal women who participated in the Nurses” Health Study.
Frequency of all analgesic use was inversely associated with estradiol, free estradiol, estrone sulfate and the ratio of estradiol to testosterone.
Average estradiol levels were 10.5 percent lower among women who regularly used aspirin or non-aspirin NSAIDs. Similarly, free estradiol levels were 10.6 per cent lower and estrone sulfate levels were 11.1 percent lower among regular users of aspirin or other NSAIDs.
Among regular users of any analgesic (aspirin, NSAIDs or acetaminophen), levels of these hormones were 15.2 per cent, 12.9 per cent and 12.6 per cent lower, respectively, according to Gates.
These study results are published in ‘Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.’
DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS?
October is breast cancer awareness month. How can you get involved? First and foremost, start by incorporating regular self breast examinations into your routine. Twenty-five percent of all breast cancers are found by women doing their own breast examination. It is best to begin these examinations while you are healthy. That way you will be able to recognize any changes to your body.
Next, learn the facts. Once you learn the facts, spread the word to everyone in your community and beyond. Healthy living should be a part of everyone’s life.
10 common breast cancer myths:
1) Men are not in danger of contracting breast cancer.
False: It is far less common in men, however, an estimated 2,000 new cases are diagnosed in men each year.
2) Breast cancer occurs only in women over 40. [click to continue…]
breast cancer symptoms more causes_risk_factors
* A hard bump to the breast, whether fixed or mobile. A bump in hard, whether fixed or mobile.
* The flow from the nipple. Flows from the nipple.
* A nipple retraction and the presence of an area of irregular or bumpy skin. Retraction of the nipple and the presence of an area of irregular or bumpy skin.
* A persistent pain in the breast. Persistent pain within.
* A small crack on the skin of the breast. A small crack on the skin of the breast.
People at risk
A number of non-modifiable to increase significantly – from the general population – the risk for a person to be achieved in this cancer. A number of non-modifiable to increase significantly – from the general population – the risk for a person to be achieved in this cancer.
* Sex. Gender. Less than 1% of cases of breast cancer are men, and they generally have more than 60 years. Less than 1% of cases of breast cancer are men, and they generally have more than 60 years. [click to continue…]
