NEW YORK – The World Health Organization (WHO) has established October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, commonly referred to as the “pink month”.
According to the organization, about one in 12 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime and it is the leading cause of death in women.
Los CDC describe cancerBreast is a disease in which breast cells multiply out of control and there are several types of breast cancer. The type of breast cancer depends on which cells in the breast become cancerous.
This type of breast cancer can start in different parts of the breast, most starting in the ducts or lobules.
We explain what breast cancer is all about and where to find places to get a mammogram, which is one of the easiest ways to detect the disease.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The warning signs of breast cancer can be different for each person. Some people don’t have any signs or symptoms, according to the CDC.
Some warning signs of breast cancer are:
- A new lump in the breast or armpit (under the arm).
- Increased thickness or swelling of part of the breast.
- Irritation or sinking into the skin of the breast.
- Redness or peeling in the nipple or breast area.
- Nipple sinking or pain in that area.
- Discharge from the nipple, other than milk, including blood.
- Any change in the size or shape of the breast.
- Pain anywhere in the breast.
Keep in mind that these warning signs can occur with conditions other than cancer, the CDC said.
NOTE: If you have any signs or symptoms that worry you, see your doctor right away.
What does it mean if I find a lump in the breast?
Many conditions can cause breast lumps, including cancer. However, most breast lumps are caused by other medical conditions. The two most common causes of breast lumps are fibrocystic disease and cysts. Fibrocystic disease causes changes in the breast that are not cancerous and can cause lumps, tenderness, and pain. The cyst they are small fluid-filled sacs that can form in the breast.
What are the risk factors for breast cancer?
Studies have shown that breast cancer risk is due to a combination of factors. The main factors that influence a person’s risk include being a woman and aging. Most breast cancers are found in women aged 50 and over.
Some women get breast cancer even if they have no other known risk factors. Having a risk factor does not mean that a person will have the disease, and not all risk factors have the same effect. Most women have some risk factors, but most women don’t have breast cancer. If you have breast cancer risk factors, talk to your doctor about ways you can reduce your risk and about breast cancer screening.
Risk factors that cannot be changed:
- grow old: Breast cancer risk increases with age. Most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50.
- Genetic mutations: Women who have inherited changes (mutations) in some genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, have a higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
- Reproductive history: The onset of menstruation before age 12 and menopause after age 55 expose women to hormones for longer, which increases the risk of breast cancer.
- have dense breasts: Dense Breasts Dense breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, which can sometimes make it difficult to detect tumors on a mammogram. Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast cancer.
- Personal history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast diseases: Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to get this disease a second time.
- Family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer.
- Previous radiotherapy treatments.
- Exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol.
Risk factors that can change:
- Not being physically active.
- Being overweight or obese after menopause.
- Get your hormones.
- reproductive history.
- Drink alcohol.
Research suggests that other factors, such as smoking, exposure to chemicals that can cause cancer, and changes in other hormones due to night work, can also increase the risk of breast cancer.
What can I do to reduce the risk of breast cancer?
There are many factors throughout your life that can affect your risk of developing breast cancer. Some factors cannot be changed, such as aging or family history, but you can reduce the risk of breast cancer by taking care of your health:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Be physically active.
- Choose not to drink alcohol or, if you do, to drink alcohol in moderation.
- If you are taking, or have been told to take, hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives (birth control pills), talk to your doctor about the risks and find out if it is best for you.
- If possible, breastfeed your babies.
- If you have a family history of breast cancer or inherited changes to your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, talk to your doctor about other ways to reduce your risk.
Maintaining good health throughout your life will reduce your risk of getting cancer and increase your chances of survival if you get cancer.
What are breast cancer screening tests?
screening test Breast cancer involves checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before signs or symptoms of the disease appear. All women should get information from their doctor about the best screening options for them. Although breast cancer screening tests cannot prevent breast cancer, they can help find cancer early, when it is easier to cure.
- Breast Cancer Screening:
Mammography
Mammograms are x-rays of the breast. For many women, mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer in its early stages, when it is easiest to treat and before it is old enough to be felt or cause symptoms. Getting regular mammograms can reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer. Right now, a mammogram is the best way to find breast cancer for most women of screening age.
Breast MRI
A breast MRI uses magnets and radio waves to take pictures of the breasts. Breast MRI is used in conjunction with mammograms to screen women at high risk for breast cancer. It is not used in women at medium risk because breast MRI can be abnormal even in the absence of cancer.
2. Benefits and Risks of Screening Tests:
All screening tests have risks and benefits; That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor before undergoing any screening tests, such as a mammogram.
The advantage of screening tests is that cancer can be found early, when it is easiest to cure.
Damage can include having a false positive test result, which is when a doctor sees something that looks like cancer but isn’t. This can lead to multiple tests, which can be expensive, invasive, time-consuming, and anxiety-provoking.
Tests can also lead to overdiagnosis; this is when doctors find a cancer that wouldn’t cause symptoms or problems, or could even go away on its own. The treatment of these cancers is called overtreatment. Overtreatment can include treatments recommended for breast cancer, such as surgery or radiation therapy. These can cause unnecessary or unwanted side effects.
WHAT IS A MAMMOGRAPHY?
A mammogram is an X-ray image of the breast. Doctors use mammograms to look for signs of early stage breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors need to find to detect breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt.
HOW DO YOU MAKE A MAMMOGRAPHY?
The person will be faced with a special X-ray machine. A technologist will place the breast on a plastic plate. Then he will cover that breast with another plate, pressing firmly. The plates will flatten the breast and hold it in place while the x-ray is taken. The person will feel some pressure. The steps are repeated to acquire an image of the side of the breast. Next, they will do an X-ray of the other breast in the same way. You will have to wait for the technician to examine the X-rays to make sure they don’t need to be taken again. Note that the technician cannot tell you the results of your mammogram. Each woman’s mammogram may look slightly different because there are no women with identical breasts.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU DO A MAMMOGRAPHY?
For most women, getting a mammogram is an awkward process. Some women find it painful. However, a mammogram only takes a few minutes, and the discomfort soon disappears. How you feel depends on the skill of the technician, the size of your breasts and the amount of pressure that needs to be applied to them. Your breasts may be more tender if you are on your period or are about to have it. A specially trained doctor, called a radiologist, will examine the X-ray for signs of early-stage breast cancer or other problems.
WHEN WILL I HAVE THE RESULTS OF MY MAMMOGRAPHY?
You will usually get results within a few weeks, although it depends on where you have your mammogram done. The radiologist will interpret the mammogram and send the results to the person and their doctor. If there is cause for concern, the facility where the mammogram was performed will contact the person ahead of the scheduled time. Contact your doctor or the facility where you had your mammogram if you don’t receive a report with the results within 30 days of the test.
WHERE CAN I GET A CHEAP OR FREE MAMMOGRAM?
To find out if you are eligible for a mammogram and screening PAP test free or low cost and where to take the test you can call 1 (866) 442-2262.
moreover meInformation on services in New York go here.
To find out if you are eligible for a mammogram and screening PAP test free or low cost information and where to get tested, call 1 (800) 328-3838.
C.OMNEPTIC
To find out if you are eligible for a mammogram and screening PAP test free or low-cost information and where to get tested, call (860) 509-7804.
For more information go here.https://portal.ct.gov/dph/Comprehensive-Cancer/Comprehensive-Cancer/The-Connecticut-Early-Detection-and-Prevention-Program-CEDPP
