Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. There is a 1 in 8 lifetime risk of a woman getting breast cancer.

WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?

Cancers are an overgrowth of cells and tissue that starts in one organ e.g. the breast, and then spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body where it usually leads to death. There are many different types of breast cancers and they don’t necessarily behave in the same way or respond to the same treatments. These days, a diagnosed cancer is studied in great detail so that the treatments are tailored to best destroy that particular cancer.

CAUSES OF BREAST CANCER

In 99.9% of breast cancer, there is NO known cause. There are risk factors that increase a person’s chances of developing cancer but almost never an actual cause. The risk factors include family history, hormone replacement, obesity, smoking and having not had children.

LUMP IN THE BREAST

Feeling a lump in the breast is the single most important symptom of breast cancer! A lump usually feels like a pea/stone/marble under the skin. Any time that a woman feels a lump in the breast she must come in for a mammogram and/or ultrasound immediately. Nonetheless, the vast majority of palpable lumps are not breast cancer. Benign growths, cysts and normal lumpy breast tissue may all present as lumps.

BREAST EXAMINATION

The purpose of a breast examination is to try to find breast cancer as early as possible. Regular (monthly) self-examination. Regular (monthly) self-examination is an extremely valuable tool, although many women find it difficult on account of naturally lumpy breasts. If this is the case, do not stress. Make sure you come for your annual mammogram in addition to visiting your gynaecologist or general practitioner who will also perform a manual breast examination.

BREAST CYSTS

A breast cyst is a bubble of water that can vary in size from several millimetres to 5 centimetres in diameter. They are extremely common and almost always benign. Breast cysts can occasionally be painful, particularly if very large or inflamed. In that case, we will aspirate (draw out) the fluid from the cyst. If they are asymptomatic, we leave cysts alone.

How to catch breast cancer early, Watch Video: https://youtu.be/ql11xKFMKg4

WANT TO BE TESTED FOR BREAST CANCER?

A mammogram is an x-ray examination of the breasts used to find cancer. Being tested for cancer can be a stressful experience. A Women’s Imaging Centre like Kempton Park Mammography can help you get tested for breast cancer.

This article was first published at https://topclickblogs.co.za/about-breast-cancer/