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For women, the thought of having breast cancer can be emotionally and physically devastating. Breast cancer is a disease that can occur at any age and is known to be the most common type of cancer among women in the United States. The average age of women who get diagnosed with breast cancer is 50 and above, although in some cases even women younger than 50 are also diagnosed. According to the 2008 survey of the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women between the ages of 40 and 55.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast and may spread to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early. The most common type of breast cancer begins in the milk-producing ducts, but cancer may also begin in the lobules or in other breast tissue. Breast cancer usually grows slowly. It could take several years before it can be detected. Survey says one out of eight women develops breast cancer. Although the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing, mortality rates have decreased due to early detection and improved treatment.
According to the American Cancer Society, the relative survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer are 89% at 5 years after diagnosis, 81% after 10 years and 73% after 15 years. However, women aged 40 and above have a slightly lower survival rate than younger women.
What should women do to detect breast cancer as early as possible?
Self-Examination
One of the best defense against breast cancer is a monthly self-examination.
A regular breast self-exam will help you familiarize yourself with how your breasts normally feel and look. If you find a lump, check the other breast. The lumpiness is probably normal if both breasts feel the same. Besides a lump or swelling, other changes in your breast might be skin irritation, nipple pain, redness of the nipple or a discharge other than breast milk. If you see any of these changes, you should see your health care provider right away.
A breast self-exam is recommended every month a few days after your period ends. During this time, your breasts are less tender or swollen. It is important to do your breast self-exam at the same time every month.
Clinical Breast Exam
The American Cancer Society recommends women in their 20s & 30s to have clinical breast exams once every three years until age 40. For women aged 40 and up, an annual CBE is required. During this exam, your doctor examines your breasts for lumps or other changes. He or she may be able to feel lumps you miss when you examine your own breasts and will also check for enlarged lymph nodes in your armpit.
Mammogram
A mammogram uses a series of X-ray images of your breast tissue. It is currently the best imaging technique for detecting tumors. Mammography plays a major role in early detection of breast cancers because of its high accuracy. The US Food and Drug Administration reported that mammography can find 85 to 90 percent of breast cancers in women over 50 and can discover a lump up to two years before it can be felt. According to the National Cancer Institute, women in their 40s and older should begin having a screening mammogram on a regular basis, every one to two years.
Screening Guidelines for Early Detection
The American Cancer Society gave the following screening guidelines for the early detection of Breast Cancer: Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40, a clinical breast exam should be part of a periodic health exam (about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and older), women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any changes promptly to their health care providers (breast self-exam is an option for women starting in their 20s) and lastly, MRI is recommended for women with approximately 20-25% or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer, including women with a strong family history.
At this time, there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer. Self-examination, clinical breast exams, and mammograms are all preventive means and should become part of every woman’s health regimen. With early detection, you have more treatment choices and a better chance of recovery. After all, it’s better to be vigilant than to be sorry. (www.asianjournal.com)
(Published October 22, 2008 p.3mdwk LAMDWK)
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