|PINK RIBBON| Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign


•	What is breast cancer?

•	Early detection (BSE)

•	Diagnosis

•	Stages

•	Treatment

•	After Treatment

•	Diet

•	Some Questions To Ask Your Doctor

•	Breast reconstruction

Just the word can be frightening, and makes some people think of death. but what is it, really? What happens in your body & why is it so hard to diagnose and treat this disease? The term cancer covers more than a hundred diseases that share one trait, cells grow out of control & destroy healthy tissues. It is important to know that nearly 9 million people alive today have history of cancer New treatments are continually being developed. Thus the fear you might feel when you learn that a friend or relative has cancer can be tempered with hope.

There are more than 100 different types of cancer that can effect the body. Most cancers are treatable, and research is constantly improving treatment of all cancers. For women the most common type is Breast Cancer.

Cells in the body normally divide at a steady, even pace. New cells are formed to take the place of old and injured cells.

Sometimes, however, when cells divide and multiply rapidly, they form a lump also called a tumor.
Nearly 80% of finding on mammogram are not cancer. They are usually a benign tumors, a cyst or some other non cancerous condition. A tumor is defined as cancer only when it can invade near by tissues & organs and damage them. Then it is called malignant. If breast cancer spreads it usually shows up first in the lymph nodes near the armpit. These nodes are part of the lymphatic system, which, like the blood circulation system, carries fluids through out the system. The fluid known as lymph may carry cancer cells to other parts of the body, where they can start new tumors.

ANOTOMY OF THE NORMAL BREAST

Each breast has six to nine overlapping sections called lobes. Within each lobe are many smaller lobules, which end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules and bulbs are all linked by thin tubes called ducts. These ducts lead to the nipple in the centre of a dark area of skin called the areola. Fat fills the spaces around the lobules and ducts. There are no muscles in the breast, but muscles lie under each breast and cover the ribs.

Each breast also contains blood vessels and vessels that carry colourless fluid called lymph. The lymph vessels lead to small bean-shaped structures called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the axilla (under the arm), above the collarbone, and in the chest. Lymph nodes are also found in many other parts of the body.

SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER

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Mass or thickening in breast or armpit.

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Marked asymmetry of the breasts, a change from normal.

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Unexplained discolorations such as redness or bruising.

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Ulceration on the breast.

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Dimpling, puckering, or retraction of skin or areola.

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Fixed inversion of nipple that is change from normal.

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Scaling, crusting or erosion of the nipple o0r areola.

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Changes in nipple direction.

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Nipple discharge.

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Changes in surface characteristics.`

WHAT ARE THE RISK OF BREAST CANCER?

Most women who experience problems with their breast may immediately think they are at risk of cancer. Yet nine out of ten breast problems are benign and in no way related to cancer.
No one knows why some women , and even some men get breast cancer and others don’t, but certain factors increase the risk. Some, such as

•	Age ( The older you are, the higher your risk)
•	Gender (Link between B.CA & the female hormone estrogen)
•	Family history ( if your mother or sister has had B.CA, risk getting B.CA rises)
•	Age at 1st child birth (Who had their child at age of 30 or later)
•	Age of 1st menstruation & menopause. ( the earlier women begins menstruating , the higher her risk seems to be,. The women who enter menopause between the age 45 & 54 , have higher risk) are beyond your control.

CONTROVERSIAL RISK FACTORS

•	Diet is fertile area for immediate individual and societal intervention to decrease the risk of developing certain cancers. There is convincing evidence that excess body fat substantially increases the risk for many types of cancer. The ideal way to avoid excess fat is to limit caloric intake and / or balance caloric in take with ample exercise. It is still important however , to limit fat intake, as evidence still supports a relationship between cancer and polyunsaturated, saturated and animal fats. Specially studies show that high consumption of red meat and dairy products can increase the risk of certain cancers. One strategy for positive dietary change is to replace red meat with chicken, fish, nuts & legumes. High fruit and vegetable consumption has been associated with a reduced risk for developing at least 10 different cancers. This may be a result of potentially protective factors such as carotenoids, folic acid, vitamin C, flavonoids, phytoestrogens and isothiocyanates. These are often referred to as antioxidants.
•	Exercise habits (Are things you can change) Higher levels of physical activity may reduce the incidence of some cancers. According to researchers at Harvard, if the entire population increased their level of physical activity by 30 minutes of brisk walking per day (or the equivalent energy expenditure in other activities), we would observe a 15% reduction in the incidence of colon cancer. The association between exercise and breast cancer is not as well defined. Women who maintain consistently high activity levels throughout their lives have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than their inactive counterparts. Women who exercised during adolescence and adulthood experienced the most significant reduction in breast cancer risk.
•	Hormones Some studies have found a slightly increased risk for women who take estrogen at high doses or for long periods, but some studies have found no increased risk for these women.

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