Breast Cancer Awareness Month: An Early Diagnosis May Save Your Life
Nadia's sister in a conversation with a UK based journal Breast Cancer Now recounted how the long journey following her diagnosis changed Nadia mentally and physically. As she lost parts of her identity that she took pride in, the treatment became an arduous procedure.
It is reported that every four minutes, an
Indian woman is diagnosed with Breast cancer. It accounts for 14% of cancers in
Indian women. Breast cancer is on the rise, both in rural and urban India. A
2018 report of Breast Cancer statistics recorded 1,62,468 new registered cases
and 87,090 reported deaths.
"Breast cancer has taken over Cervical cancer as the most predominant type of cancer in women throughout India", says Dr M C Mishra, Former Director AIIMS. He linked pollution from growing urbanization to growing Breast cancer rates.
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts
in the breast. Breast cancer cells usually form a tumor that can often be seen
on an x-ray or felt as a lump. Breast cancer occurs almost entirely in women,
but men can get breast cancer, too.
Warning
Signs and Symptoms:
According to Centre for Disease Control and
Prevention, some warning signs of breast cancer are:
●
New lump in the breast or underarm
(armpit).
●
Thickening or swelling of part of
the breast.
●
Irritation or dimpling of breast
skin.
●
Redness or flaky skin in the
nipple area or the breast.
●
Pulling in of the nipple or pain
in the nipple area.
●
Nipple discharge other than breast
milk, including blood.
●
Any change in the size or the
shape of the breast.
●
Pain in any area of the breast.
During a discussion with Awaz-e-Khwateen, Dr.
Natasha Thakur, Professor SKIMS while elaborating on warning signs said,
"Any lump with or without pain needs to be immediately examined by a
medical health practitioner. Women with red-bloody discharge from their nipple,
sudden inverted nipples, or red nipples need to get examined by a doctor without
any delay".
Who can
get it:
Around half of the breast cancer cases are
found in women who have no recognizable breast cancer risk factors which means anyone can get it. But certain risk
factors put some people at a higher risk of getting the disease. Some of the
risk factors are:
- Sex: Women are at a high
risk of developing breast cancer. Female gender is the strongest breast
cancer risk factor. Approximately 0.5-1% of breast cancers occur in men.
- Age: Women over the age of
40 are at a greater risk of getting Breast cancer. Most Breast cancers are
found in women with advancing age, this is why regular breast examinations
are advised to prevent the disease and an early diagnosis.
- Unhealthy Lifestyle: Obesity,
prolonged exposure to alcohol, smoking and sedentary lifestyle predispose
women to Breast cancer.
- Family History: Women with
a family history of cancer are at a higher risk. If any of your
first-degree relatives i.e mother, sister or daughter has had Breast
cancer, getting screened is the key to early detection.
Cancer is a scary and debilitating disease,
that being said Breast cancer causes additional physical changes and emotional
turmoil to women. Breast cancer is the world's most prevalent cancer but its
treatment can be highly effective. Early diagnosis is the key to stop the
cancer from growing and spreading. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we urge
every woman to take note of any changes they feel in their breasts. Self Breast
Examination (SBE) is highly advised to all women, feeling each breast for
possible distortions, change in size or shape, lumps or discharge. Carefully
access your situation, family history and risk factors and talk to your doctor
because an early diagnosis may just save your life.
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