Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Signs, Prevention and Treatment

Posted On: 2023-10-27 13:10:38

Breast Cancer Awareness Month was started as a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the now-defunct Imperial Chemical Industries’ pharmaceutical division, to promote mammography as the most effective weapon against breast cancer.

 

Today, it is an annual international health campaign organized by major organizations related to breast cancer to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.

 

In 2020, there were 2.3 million cases of breast cancer, resulting in the deaths of 685,000 people globally. In India, 14% of cancer cases among women are breast cancer cases. 

 

Contrary to popular belief, breast cancer isn’t solely restricted to women. In rare cases, men can be affected with breast cancer as well. It grows in the small amount of breast tissue men have behind their nipples.

 

To observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we will be dedicating this article to the signs, prevention and treatment of the disease.

 

Symptoms:

 

• 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.

 

Symptoms in Men

 

• A lump in the breast – this is usually hard, painless and does not move around within the breast
• The nipple turning inwards
• Fluid oozing from the nipple (nipple discharge), which may be streaked with blood
• A sore or rash around the nipple that does not go away
• The nipple or surrounding skin becoming hard, red or swollen
• Small bumps in the armpit (swollen glands)

 

Prevention 

 

• Keep a healthy weight.
• Be physically active.
• Choose not to drink alcohol, or drink alcohol in moderation.
• If you are taking, or have been told to take, hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives (birth control pills), ask your doctor about the risks and find out if it is right for you.
• Breastfeed your children, if possible.
• If you have a family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, talk to your doctor about other ways to lower your risk.

 

Treatment

 

 

• Surgery. An operation where doctors cut out the cancer.
• Chemotherapy. Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer cells. The drugs can be pills you take medicines given in your veins, or sometimes both.
• Hormonal therapy. Blocks cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.
• Biological therapy. Works with your body’s immune system to help it fight cancer cells or to control side effects from other cancer treatments.
• Radiation therapy. Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer cells.

 

Filaantro understands the dangers of breast cancer. Filaantro, along with Child Help Foundation raises funds for patients dealing with breast cancer. If you or anyone you know is diagnosed with breast cancer, feel free to start a fundraiser on our website.

 

Thank you for reading this article. Make sure to share this article with all your friends and family members. 

 

AUTHOR: Adil Sayyad