Breast Cancer in Women
Women are often perceived as weak, but nothing could be further from the truth since they are strong, energetic, multitasking, active, motherly, intelligent, professional, and beautiful beings, who bring human life into the world. However, due to day-to-day stress and other daily life hassles, women omit their health and it becomes more difficult for them to follow the path of a healthy lifestyle. The second cause of death for women in the United States is breast cancer, but science has different tools in hand to fight it. Going through breast cancer surgery might have a high emotional impact on women, but there are many cutting-edge breast treatments available in Texas.
“Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. These cells usually form a tumor that can often be seen on an x-ray or felt as a lump. The tumor is malignant (cancer) if the cells can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body”.
American Cancer Society. (2017, September 21). About breast cancer [PDF]. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8577.00.pdf
There are many minimally invasive types of breast treatment and breast surgery available for patients that have a malignant tumor in their breasts nowadays.
Prevention
No scientific research to date proves that breast cancer can be prevented; however, some scientific research supports the idea of reducing the risk of developing breast cancer in women by living a healthier lifestyle and following certain guidelines supported by breast cancer surgery specialists, such as:
Moderate alcohol intake. Alcoholic drinks increase hormone levels associated with breast cancer.“Compared to women who do not drink, women who consume three alcoholic beverages per week have a 15% higher risk of breast cancer”- American Cancer Society.
Drinking alcohol. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/alcohol
Not smoking. Accumulating evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer, particularly in premenopausal women. In addition, not smoking is one of the best things women can do for their overall health.
Weight management. Being overweight increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause.
Exercising. Physical activity is necessary and can help to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Breastfeeding. A high number of women who breastfeed have hormonal changes during lactation that delay their menstrual periods. In women, exposure to different hormones like estrogen can endorse breast cancer cell growth, but breastfeeding can reduce that risk.
Choosing hormone therapy wisely. When women take hormone therapy for more than three to five years, it increases their risk of breast cancer. If the patient is taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, she should ask a specialist about other options like non-hormonal therapy and medications.
Reducing the exposure to radiation and environmental pollution. Lower the exposure to these health hazards by having radiation tests performed only when there is no other choice or by avoiding working or living in environments that are highly polluted or affected by radiation.
In order to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, it is necessary to clarify different doubts and myths about it. A breast surgery specialist can also clarify any questions the patient might have about any myths related to breast cancer and breast surgery.
Myth #1
Most cases of breast cancer are caused by inheritance.
Reality
Only 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are inherited. According to the American Cancer Society, about 8 to 10 women who have breast cancer do not have a family history of this disease.
Myth #2
No matter what you do, nothing reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.
Reality
Having a healthy lifestyle can have an impact on reducing breast cancer risk. If the patient has a healthy weight, exercises regularly, moderates alcohol intake and does not smoke or quits, he or she can keep the risk of developing cancer as low as it can be.
Myth #3
Consuming dairy causes cancer
Reality
This myth is very popular, but the correlation between dairy intake and an increased risk of breast cancer is misleading. Over many decades, studies have shown that dairy consumption does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
It is important to know how to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, but it is equally important to perform a breast self-exam (BSE) every month and a mammogram every year. It does not only work to detect benign and malign tumors early on, but it could also represent a wake-up call to save a life and it is critical to observe the different options with your breast cancer specialist.
It is better to perform the BSE about one to two weeks after the monthly period when the breasts are less tender or swollen. If the patient has irregular periods, is going through menopause, or is pregnant, it is better to choose a specific day of the month to do it and maybe set an alarm on a phone to remember it. If the patient finds a lump, it's critical to ask a breast cancer specialist, but it is also important to avoid panicking about it since about 80% of lumps found through BSE are not cancerous. Moreover, the breast cancer specialist can inform the patient about many breast cancer treatment options or if necessary, offer one of the many innovative types of breast cancer surgery that are less invasive than ever before.
How to do a Breast Self-Exam?
Step 1: Touch
It should not be performed during a bath or with any lotion on the skin or fingers.
Lie down and place a small pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder. Put your right hand behind your head. Place your left hand on the upper portion of your right breast with fingers together and flat, focusing on feeling through the index, middle, and ring finger pads.
Following a clockwise movement, start moving your hand at 12 o'clock and move toward 1 o'clock in small circular motions. Continue doing the movement until 12 o'clock is reached again. Keep your fingers flat and in constant contact with your breast. When the circle is complete, move in 1 inch toward the nipple and complete another circle in clockwise motion. Continue following this pattern until the entire breast is examined. Make sure to feel the upper outer areas that extend into the armpit.
Put the fingers flat and directly on top of your nipple. Apply some slight pressure to the nipple to look for any changes beneath. Gently press your nipple inward; it should move easily.
Roll on to your right side and repeat these steps on your left breast, using your right hand. Don’t forget to check the upper, outer area of the breast, nearest to the armpit.
Step 2: Look
It is not only important to touch during the BSE; it is also important to look at the shape of both breasts in front of a mirror. The patient should look at any type of changes in different positions, viewing from the right and left sides as well as facing forward. But the patient might wonder, what should I look for? Changes in shape (size), skin (rash, redness, puckering, dimpling, or orange-peel-textured appearance), nipples (sudden inversion, scaliness, redness, itching, swelling, or discharge), vein patterns (increase in size or number), etc.
Women are often perceived as weak, but nothing could be further from the truth since they are strong, energetic, multitasking, active, motherly, intelligent, professional, and beautiful beings, who bring human life into the world. However, due to day-to-day stress and other daily life hassles, women omit their health and it becomes more difficult for them to follow the path of a healthy lifestyle. The second cause of death for women in the United States is breast cancer, but science has different tools in hand to fight it. Going through breast cancer surgery might have a high emotional impact on women, but there are many cutting-edge breast treatments available in Texas.
“Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. These cells usually form a tumor that can often be seen on an x-ray or felt as a lump. The tumor is malignant (cancer) if the cells can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body”.
American Cancer Society. (2017, September 21). About breast cancer [PDF]. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8577.00.pdf
There are many minimally invasive types of breast treatment and breast surgery available for patients that have a malignant tumor in their breasts nowadays.
Prevention
No scientific research to date proves that breast cancer can be prevented; however, some scientific research supports the idea of reducing the risk of developing breast cancer in women by living a healthier lifestyle and following certain guidelines supported by breast cancer surgery specialists, such as:
Moderate alcohol intake. Alcoholic drinks increase hormone levels associated with breast cancer.“Compared to women who do not drink, women who consume three alcoholic beverages per week have a 15% higher risk of breast cancer”- American Cancer Society.
Drinking alcohol. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/alcohol
Not smoking. Accumulating evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer, particularly in premenopausal women. In addition, not smoking is one of the best things women can do for their overall health.
Weight management. Being overweight increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause.
Exercising. Physical activity is necessary and can help to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Breastfeeding. A high number of women who breastfeed have hormonal changes during lactation that delay their menstrual periods. In women, exposure to different hormones like estrogen can endorse breast cancer cell growth, but breastfeeding can reduce that risk.
Choosing hormone therapy wisely. When women take hormone therapy for more than three to five years, it increases their risk of breast cancer. If the patient is taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, she should ask a specialist about other options like non-hormonal therapy and medications.
Reducing the exposure to radiation and environmental pollution. Lower the exposure to these health hazards by having radiation tests performed only when there is no other choice or by avoiding working or living in environments that are highly polluted or affected by radiation.
In order to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, it is necessary to clarify different doubts and myths about it. A breast surgery specialist can also clarify any questions the patient might have about any myths related to breast cancer and breast surgery.
Myth #1
Most cases of breast cancer are caused by inheritance.
Reality
Only 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are inherited. According to the American Cancer Society, about 8 to 10 women who have breast cancer do not have a family history of this disease.
Myth #2
No matter what you do, nothing reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.
Reality
Having a healthy lifestyle can have an impact on reducing breast cancer risk. If the patient has a healthy weight, exercises regularly, moderates alcohol intake and does not smoke or quits, he or she can keep the risk of developing cancer as low as it can be.
Myth #3
Consuming dairy causes cancer
Reality
This myth is very popular, but the correlation between dairy intake and an increased risk of breast cancer is misleading. Over many decades, studies have shown that dairy consumption does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
It is important to know how to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, but it is equally important to perform a breast self-exam (BSE) every month and a mammogram every year. It does not only work to detect benign and malign tumors early on, but it could also represent a wake-up call to save a life and it is critical to observe the different options with your breast cancer specialist.
It is better to perform the BSE about one to two weeks after the monthly period when the breasts are less tender or swollen. If the patient has irregular periods, is going through menopause, or is pregnant, it is better to choose a specific day of the month to do it and maybe set an alarm on a phone to remember it. If the patient finds a lump, it's critical to ask a breast cancer specialist, but it is also important to avoid panicking about it since about 80% of lumps found through BSE are not cancerous. Moreover, the breast cancer specialist can inform the patient about many breast cancer treatment options or if necessary, offer one of the many innovative types of breast cancer surgery that are less invasive than ever before.
How to do a Breast Self-Exam?
Step 1: Touch
It should not be performed during a bath or with any lotion on the skin or fingers.
Lie down and place a small pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder. Put your right hand behind your head. Place your left hand on the upper portion of your right breast with fingers together and flat, focusing on feeling through the index, middle, and ring finger pads.
Following a clockwise movement, start moving your hand at 12 o'clock and move toward 1 o'clock in small circular motions. Continue doing the movement until 12 o'clock is reached again. Keep your fingers flat and in constant contact with your breast. When the circle is complete, move in 1 inch toward the nipple and complete another circle in clockwise motion. Continue following this pattern until the entire breast is examined. Make sure to feel the upper outer areas that extend into the armpit.
Put the fingers flat and directly on top of your nipple. Apply some slight pressure to the nipple to look for any changes beneath. Gently press your nipple inward; it should move easily.
Roll on to your right side and repeat these steps on your left breast, using your right hand. Don’t forget to check the upper, outer area of the breast, nearest to the armpit.
Step 2: Look
It is not only important to touch during the BSE; it is also important to look at the shape of both breasts in front of a mirror. The patient should look at any type of changes in different positions, viewing from the right and left sides as well as facing forward. But the patient might wonder, what should I look for? Changes in shape (size), skin (rash, redness, puckering, dimpling, or orange-peel-textured appearance), nipples (sudden inversion, scaliness, redness, itching, swelling, or discharge), vein patterns (increase in size or number), etc.