BREAST CANCER AWARENESS:
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS:
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. We have made a lot of progress but still have a long way to go.
Every person should know the symptoms and signs of breast cancer, and any time an abnormality is discovered, it should be investigated by a healthcare professional.
Most people who have breast cancer symptoms and signs will initially notice only one or two, and the presence of these symptoms and signs do not automatically mean that you have breast cancer.
By performing monthly breast self-exams, you will be able to more easily identify any changes in your breast. Be sure to talk to your healthcare professional if you notice anything unusual. (If you are not sure how to conduct a breast self-exam: GO HERE)
The best way to fight this is early detection!!
DID YOU KNOW: MEN GET BREAST CANCER TOO!!!
This year, an estimated 2,360 men in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. An estimated 430 men will die of breast cancer this year.
The five-year survival rate is the percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases.
Breast cancer in men and women has similar survival rates. For the earliest stages of breast cancer, stages 0 and I, the five-year survival rate is 99%. Men with breast cancer that has spread to the local lymph nodes have an 84% five-year survival rate, and men with cancer that has spread to other parts of the body have a 24% five-year survival rate. Even if the cancer is found at a later stage, new treatments help many people with breast cancer maintain their quality of life for some period of time.
Age. The average age for men to be diagnosed with breast cancer is 65.
Regular self-examinations, clinical breast examinations performed by a doctor or other health care professional, and mammography are important ways to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Men should be familiar with the feel of their breast tissue, so they can talk with their doctor if they notice any lump or change. During an annual physical examination, your doctor will perform a clinical examination of the breast. Mammograms are not routinely offered to men and may be difficult to perform because of the small amount of breast tissue. A doctor may recommend regular mammography for men with a strong family history of breast cancer or for those with a genetic mutation that increases the risk of developing the disease.
Men with breast cancer may experience the following symptoms. Sometimes, men with breast cancer do not show any of these symptoms or signs. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that i