While serious, breast cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, especially when detected early. Knowing more about it can save your life, so read on to get more information on how to detect it as early as possible, and learn the necessary steps to improve your quality of life in the long term.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease where cancer cells in the breast grow out of control. Like other forms of cancer, it occurs when your body's normal control mechanism stops working. Old cells don’t die and instead grow out of control, forming new but abnormal cells. More of a genetic trait, you are more likely to develop breast cancer if one or more women in your family have already had it.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include but are not limited to:
- A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
- Change in the size, shape, or appearance of a breast
- Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
- A newly inverted nipple
- Peeling, scaling, crusting, or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin
- Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange
Why is early detection important?
Breast cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer, especially when detected early on. Early detection of breast cancer is important so you can immediately look for your available treatment options, get a higher rate of survival, and have an improved quality of life. While there is no definitive method of preventing breast cancer, early detection provides the best chance of effective treatment.
What are the treatment options?
Breast cancer is treated in several ways depending on the kind of breast cancer and how far it has spread. People with breast cancer often get more than one kind of treatment.
Treatment options include but may not be limited to:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Hormonal therapy
- Biological therapy
- Radiation therapy
Treatment options include but may not be limited to:
My AIA offers a Breast Health Checker. While not a replacement of an actual doctor’s consult, it can give you an idea of your risk and can be a good basis to start that much-needed conversation with your doctor. When you make checking your breast health part of your medical routine, you get a better chance of detecting the early signs breast cancer and seek the necessary medical attention.
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