Breast Cancer: Be On The Lookout For These Warning Signs
The facts about breast cancer can be scary. It is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world (the first being lung cancer). Breast cancer was fatal to over half a million people worldwide in the year 2005. It is rated #5 among the most common forms of cancer in the world. Despite, these scary numbers, there are things you can do to help yourself when it comes to this cancer.
A lump in the breast is often the first sign of this disease. The lump generally feels different from the surrounding breast tissue. You should immediately see your physician if you discover a lump. Your physician will follow up with appropriate tests and examinations, such as a mammogram, to determine the nature of the lump.
Other signs can include a change in size or shape of the breast, dimpling of the skin, nipple inversion or discharge coming from a single nipple. If you have pain your breast you should also get that checked out, although it is not typically a symptom of breast cancer it can be a symptom of other issues.
Discovering these symptoms should not be cause for immediate alarm. Most of the time, the cause of the symptoms is not cancer. But the risk of cancer is very real, the consequences of cancer are severe, and the disease is progressive, so one should never delay scheduling an appointment with their health care professional.
What will occur if you get diagnosed with breast cancer? What kind of treatment can you anticipate? There are plenty of customizable options, and your doctor will take time to walk you through each of them. While many women are petrified about the possibility of a mastectomy, rest assured that this is an extreme form of treatment, and many cases of cancer don't require it. Don't allow fear to prevent you from getting the best possible care.
While breast cancer can be a scary topic it is highly treatable. If you do monthly self-exams and get yourself checked regularly by your doctor you will have a better chance of catching this disease early on and preventing the disease from becoming life threatening. For anyone suffering from the disease there are numerous support groups you can join to help you cope.
According to recent research conducted by the American Cancer Society, on an average an eighth of all females are bound to suffer from breast cancer. Although tumors of the mammary glands is not as widespread as heart ailments, nonetheless it evokes morbid dread due to the possibility of illness, fatality, and mastectomy. Any cancer risk is determined on several complex issues that are not yet well understood. Changes to the breast, including any noticeable abnormalities, should be immediately brought to the attention of a physician. Tests to screen for cancer, such as the mammogram, should be performed as recommended by your doctor.
Published August 30th, 2008