Breast Cancer: Everything You Need to Know
seventeen17
Posts: 41
in Health
October is breast cancer awareness month, so it’s the perfect time to learn about this disease that affects so many women (and men) around the world.
In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about breast cancer, from the signs and symptoms to the different types of treatment. By the end of this post, you’ll have a much better understanding of this disease and what you can do to prevent it.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. It is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. There are different kinds of breast cancer and each kind depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer.
Statistics
Globally:
According to the World Health Organisation, in 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685 000 deaths globally. As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.
In Nigeria:
According to the International Journal of Breast Cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among persons aged 15 to 39 years, constituting about 50% of all cancers in that age group. Among all breast cancer patients, the proportion of those aged 15-39 years is 30.58%.
Types of Breast Cancer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are several different types of breast cancer, but the two most common are invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma.
Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer
The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast. This is often painless, but not always. Other symptoms may include:
Keep in mind that these symptoms can also be caused by conditions other than breast cancer, so it’s important to see a doctor if you’re experiencing any of them.
Risk factors for breast cancer
According to research, breast cancer risk is caused by a combination of factors. Being a woman and getting older are two major risk factors. The majority of breast cancers are discovered in women over the age of 50.
Having a risk factor does not guarantee that you will get the disease, and not all risk factors have the same effect.
Risk Factors You Cannot Change
Risk Factors You Can Change
The treatment for breast cancer will depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, your age and overall health, and your personal preferences. The most common treatments are:
Breast cancer is one of the world’s deadly killer diseases, knowing all there is to know about it is really important. Having health insurance is even more important in ensuring you have early and proper checkup, diagnosis, and treatment while maintaining your finances.
Get health insurance today by signing up for free on rohealth.ng!!
In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about breast cancer, from the signs and symptoms to the different types of treatment. By the end of this post, you’ll have a much better understanding of this disease and what you can do to prevent it.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. It is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. There are different kinds of breast cancer and each kind depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer.
Statistics
Globally:
According to the World Health Organisation, in 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685 000 deaths globally. As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.
In Nigeria:
According to the International Journal of Breast Cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among persons aged 15 to 39 years, constituting about 50% of all cancers in that age group. Among all breast cancer patients, the proportion of those aged 15-39 years is 30.58%.
Types of Breast Cancer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are several different types of breast cancer, but the two most common are invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma.
- Ductal carcinoma starts in the milk ducts and is by far the most common type of breast cancer.
- Lobular carcinoma starts in milk-producing glands called lobules.
Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer
The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast. This is often painless, but not always. Other symptoms may include:
- changes in the size or shape of the breast
- changes to the nipple (such as redness, scaliness, or discharge)
- a change in how the breast feels (such as heaviness, tenderness, or unusual pain)
- swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone
Keep in mind that these symptoms can also be caused by conditions other than breast cancer, so it’s important to see a doctor if you’re experiencing any of them.
Risk factors for breast cancer
According to research, breast cancer risk is caused by a combination of factors. Being a woman and getting older are two major risk factors. The majority of breast cancers are discovered in women over the age of 50.
Having a risk factor does not guarantee that you will get the disease, and not all risk factors have the same effect.
Risk Factors You Cannot Change
- Getting older.
- Genetic mutations.
- Reproductive history.
- Having dense breasts.
- Personal history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast diseases.
- Family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
- Previous treatment using radiation therapy.
- Exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES).
Risk Factors You Can Change
- Not being physically active.
- Being overweight or having obesity after menopause.
- Some forms of hormone replacement therapy (those that include both estrogen and progesterone) taken during menopause
- Certain oral contraceptives (birth control pills) also have been found to raise breast cancer risk.
- Reproductive history.
- Drinking alcohol.
The treatment for breast cancer will depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, your age and overall health, and your personal preferences. The most common treatments are:
- surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy)
- radiation therapy
- chemotherapy
- hormonal therapy
- Biological therapy
Breast cancer is one of the world’s deadly killer diseases, knowing all there is to know about it is really important. Having health insurance is even more important in ensuring you have early and proper checkup, diagnosis, and treatment while maintaining your finances.
Get health insurance today by signing up for free on rohealth.ng!!
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