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  Category: Articles » Health & Fitness » Cancer » Article
 

Identifying the Signs of Breast Cancer




By Anne Wolski

Copyright 2005 Anne Wolski

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer deaths.

Every woman's breasts are different so it is important for each individual woman to be familiar with her breasts in order to recognize any peculiarities.

Unfortunately, the early stages of breast cancer may not have any symptoms. This is why it is important to follow screening recommendations. As a tumor grows in size, it can produce a variety of symptoms including:

* lump or thickening in the breast or underarm * change in size or shape of the breast * nipple discharge or nipple turning inward * redness or scaling of the skin or nipple * ridges or pitting of the breast skin

If you experience these symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean you have breast cancer, but you need to be examined by a doctor.

Breast cancer is very rare before age 20 and is rarely diagnosed in women younger than age 25. Past that age, the incidence rises steadily to reach a peak around the age of menopause. The rate of increase is lessened after menopause, but older women are still at increasing risk over time.

Although a specific cause for breast cancer has not been identified, there are risk factors that increase the likelihood that a woman will develop a breast cancer. These risks include:

* Maternal relative with breast cancer. * Women who start their menstruation early and/or go into early menopause, increasing the length of reproductive years, are at greater risk. * Obesity. Women who are overweight are at increased risk * Women who have never had children are at greater risk. * Women who had their first child over age 30 are at greater risk. * Previous breast cancer. * Previous endometrial cancer.

Aside from the genetic predisposition, the common factor in many of these risks is increased endogenous estrogen exposure over a long time.

It is recommended that women over 35 check their breasts monthly. However, it is also important that all women do regular breast checks. Your doctor can show you how to effectively check your breasts. Any lump, regardless of size, should be reported to your doctor. Many of these lumps are simply fatty lumps or cysts but it is far better to be safe than sorry.

Catching breast cancer early makes a big difference in the type of treatment needed as well as the overall prognosis.

 
 
About the Author
Anne Wolski has worked within the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. To see many great health-related resources, go to http://www.magnetic-health-online.com


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  Some other articles by Anne Wolski
Slimming- Exploring the options
Why do people want to lose weight? The answer to this is complex and can involve a wide variety of factors. ...

Wellness – The Total Concept
Wellness is a term that is becoming very common in our modern era. But what exactly constitutes 'wellness'? Does wellness mean ...

Vegitarianism - More Than Just a Diet
It is a fact that, in the past, vegetarians were often seen as being somewhat eccentric or belonging to some odd sect. However, in recent ...

Breaking Down The Communication Barriers With Your Kids
Copyright 2005 Anne Wolski Being a parent isn't easy. Some days just getting everyone in your family all together at the same time for dinner can seem ...

The Dangers of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Copyright 2005 Anne Wolski A deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot developing in a deep vein, usually in the leg. They also can occur in other parts of ...

The Absentee Parent - Parenting From A Distance
Copyright 2005 Anne Wolski You want to be able to continue having a great relationship with your kids after separation or divorce. This means focusing on the kids rather than your ex-partner. You ...

  
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