October is breast cancer awareness month and this post is specifically for the Blogadda’s Online Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. I was tagged by Abha Midha for this noble cause.
There is a plethora of information available online on Breast Cancer–way more than one person could ever read. This post is an effort to present the info on Breast Cancer in a concise manner and from A to Z…
| Age | Age is the most significant risk factor. Breast cancer is rare in women younger than 25 years. Incidence increases with age, with a plateau in women aged 50-55 years. |
| Biopsy Breast Self Examination |
A breast biopsy is a procedure in which part or all of a suspicious breast growth is removed and examined, usually for the presence of cancer. The growth sample is suctioned out through a needle or cut out using a surgical procedure. The sample is then examined and evaluated under a microscope by a pathologist to identify non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) tissue.Breast self-examination (BSE) is a screening method used in an attempt to detect early breast cancer. The method involves the woman herself looking at and feeling each breast for possible lumps, distortions or swelling. |
| Chemotherapy | Depending on the type of cancer and how advanced it is, chemotherapy can:
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| Diagnosis | Screening techniques are useful in determining the possibility of cancer, a further testing is necessary to confirm whether a lump detected on screening is cancer, as opposed to a benign alternative such as a simple cyst. Breast cancer is commonly diagnosed using a “triple test” of clinical breast examination, mammography, and fine needle aspiration cytology. Other options are core biopsy, excisional biopsy, and vacuum-assisted breast biopsy |
| Evaluation | Breast cancer evaluation should be approached with an ordered inquiry beginning with symptoms and general clinical history, followed by clinical examination and, finally, investigation, which may include imaging and biopsy. This approach naturally lends itself to a gradually increasing degree of invasiveness, so that when a diagnosis is obtained, the process can be stopped with the minimum amount of invasion and, consequently, minimum discomfort to the patient. Because the more invasive investigations also tend to be the most expensive, this approach is usually the most economical. |
| Fears | Most people go through several stages of fear when they are first diagnosed. A big part of the fear of breast cancer diagnosis is all the uncertainty and the feeling that you’ve lost control of your life — being swept away on an uncharted journey that you don’t want to take. It’s hard to imagine how anything good could happen on this particular trip. |
| Genes | Variations of the BRCA1, BRAC2, CDH1, PTEN, STK11 and TP53 genes increase the risk of developing breast cancer. The AR, ATM, BARD1, BRIP1, CHEK2, DIRAS3, ERBB2, NBN, PALB2, RAD50, AND RAD51 genes are associated with breast cancer. |
| History | Breast cancer may be one of the oldest known forms of cancerous tumours in humans. The oldest description of cancer was discovered in Egypt and dates back to approximately 1600 BC. The Edwin Smith Papyrus describes 8 cases of tumours or ulcers of the breast that were treated by cauterization. |
| Incidence | Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, after skin cancer, representing 16% of all female cancers. The rate is more than twice that of colorectal cancer and cervical cancer and about three times that of lung cancer. Mortality worldwide is 25% greater than that of lung cancer in women. |
| Job | The impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on work life and day to day matters can vary from person to person. For some people, the effect is minimal. Some may have an understanding supervisor, a flexible schedule, and an encouraging team to support them through treatment. For others, there might be some questions about how to manage work (at office or home) and treatment. |
| Keloid | A type of scar can occur after a surgical incision. A very severe form of a scar, it actually grows into normal uninvolved skin and does not resolve over a period of time. Also called hypertrophic scarring. |
| Lumpectomy | Surgery to remove the breast tumour and a small margin of surrounding normal tissue |
| Mammography | An x-ray of the breast; used to screen for or investigate breast abnormalities and breast cancer, particularly those which are too small to be felt by physical examination. Mammograms are made using a special x-ray machine designed specifically for this purpose. Screening mammography is used for early detection of breast cancer in women without any breast symptoms. Diagnostic mammography is used to help characterize suspicious breast masses or determine the cause of other breast symptoms. |
| National Breast Cancer Awareness Month | October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by the media as well as survivors, family and friends of survivors and/or victims of the disease |
| Other Names |
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 Pink Ribbon |
A pink ribbon is a symbol of breast cancer awareness. It may be worn to honour those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. In the fall of 1991, Susan G. Komen for the Cure handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors. |
| Quality of Life | Women who have had treatment for breast cancer should be reassured that while they may be left with reminders of their treatment (such as surgical scars), their overall quality of life, once treatment has been completed, can be normal. Extensive studies have shown this. Women who have had chemotherapy may, however, notice a slight decrease in certain areas of function. |
| Risk Factors | The primary epidemiologic and risk factors that have been identified are sex, age lack of childbearing or breastfeeding, higher hormone levels, race and economic status, Personal history of breast cancer, family history, and certain breast changes. |
| Symptoms | According to the American Cancer Society, any of the following unusual changes in the breast can be a symptom of breast cancer:
These changes also can be signs of less serious conditions that are not cancerous, such as an infection or a cyst. It’s important to get any breast changes checked out promptly by a doctor. |
| Treatment | Breast cancer is usually treated with surgery and then possibly with chemotherapy or radiation, or both. Hormone positive cancers are treated with long term hormone blocking therapy. Treatments are given with increasing aggressiveness according to the prognosis and risk of recurrence. |
| Uncertain or Unproven Risk Factors | Most studies found that breast cancer is less common in countries where the typical diet is low in fat. On the other hand, many studies of women in the United States have not found breast cancer risk to be linked to how much fat they ate. Researchers are still not sure how to explain this difference. More research is needed to better understand the effect of the types of fat eaten and body weight on breast cancer risk. |
| Vacuum-assisted Breast Biopsy | Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy is a tissue sampling technique that uses a special instrument and imaging guidance to remove samples of breast tissue through a single, small skin incision. This technique allows the surgeon to remove more tissue through a single incision than is possible with a traditional core biopsy and is a much less invasive procedure than an open surgical biopsy. For these reasons, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy is becoming more common as a diagnostic tool in the management of breast lumps and abnormalities. |
| Weight | Being overweight or obese is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, especially for women after change of life or if the weight gain took place during adulthood. The risk seems to be higher if the extra fat is around the waist. But the link between weight and breast cancer risk is complex. And studies of fat in the diet as it relates to breast cancer risk have often given conflicting results. The American Cancer Society recommends you stay at a healthy weight throughout your life and avoid gaining too much weight. |
| X-rays | A high-energy form of radiation. X-rays form an image of body structures by travelling through the body and striking a sheet of film. Breast x-rays are called mammograms. |
| Yoga | An ancient Indian system of practices used to balance the mind and body through exercise, meditation (focusing thoughts), and control of breathing and emotions. Yoga is being studied as a way to relieve stress and treat sleep problems in breast cancer patients. |
| Zinecard | A drug used to reduce heart damage in women given doxorubicin for breast cancer that has spread. It is also being studied in the treatment of cancer. Zinecard contains the active ingredient dexrazoxane. It is a type of cardioprotective agent, a type of chemoprotective agent, and a type of topoisomerase inhibitor. |
We can do a lot by creating awareness, so calling my fellow blogger friends Neha, Sreya, Smitha, Insignia and Scribbler to join in this campaign… Lets say bye bye to breast cancer.
Also linking this post to Write Tribe : World Cancer Day
30 Responses
Very informative and yet very depressing. The fact that so many women need this information and can use it makes it informative. The ugly truth that so many women and their lives have been turned upside down because of the onslaught of this dreaded illness makes it frightening and depressing. What a paradox.
Very informative Shilpa. And such an important issue as well. It is one of the biggest killers of women. And there is a lot that awareness can do. Hopefully some of us will benefit from all this information.
Thanks for tagging me, Shilpa. Will do it soon.
Thanks Shilpa for writing such an informative post. It is a real eye opener and will surely help to create awareness of the subject. well done 🙂
That was an exhaustive on Breast Cancer. Very thoughtful that you chose to post it. I appreciate the mind behind .
very informative post.
Shilpa, great work. Nice to see you doing your bit by creating awareness. Breast cancer is one of the major killer diseases in women; and yet so many of us are ignorant about it.
thanks for inviting me to join the campaign. I will do my bit for sure 🙂
Well researched and well presented post, Shilpa.
That was not only informative but very creative too.
Excellent post Shilpa ! Very well researched and informative .It is a topic of great importance as B.C. is one of the most common cancer diagnosed in women.Kudos to you for your efforts in creating awareness regarding this:):)
a very informative post Shilpa….u laid very imp points which nt many know…
women of india are too shy to visit dr for this cause…an awareness and emphasis should be put on such diseases…thnx for it…
wish for complete eradication of it..
i have heard thse days anit-cancer vaccine has come … by which a women would nt get it for abt 10-12 yrs…
Its high time more awareness is created on this….and I am glad of this post by you, Shilpa. Hugs to u. 🙂
And lots of info…like the way you’ve alphabetically listed them all….its very important to be aware of such things. 🙂
Very informative as always!
Congrats on the Tangy Tuesday pick by Blogadda. 🙂 🙂 When I commented before, I just thot this one will be selected, as they are picking the posts on Breast Cancer Awareness. 🙂
Thanks for this concise information and tagging me…I’ll take it up for sure 🙂
and congrats on the pick from Blog Adda 🙂
very informative post..:)
Info one can use. Thank You
You’ve certainly done your part in the campaign spreading the awareness about Breast Cancer in such a concise A-Z manner that’s easy to understand. Good job!
such an informative and detailed post shilpa..
thanks for the tag..I will for sure write about it 🙂
a wonderful and informative post!! no wonder it got selected..congrats!
I can understand the pain.My own niece has gone through this problem and trust me, it is so painful.We got her operated upon at RG institute.
Girls, irrespective of social status,must get on with awareness campaign.
@ Swapna, Smitha, Abha, Anil, Jidhu, Insignia, Restkess, Nethra, Kavita, Rohini, UmaS, Aativas, Scribbler, R Ramesh, The Holy Lama, RGB, Neha, Reema, BK Chowla : Thank you for your feedback! Let’s do out bit by spreading the info/awareness about this dreadful disease!!
oh wow this is lovely.! can be taken as a pick for the breast cancer awareness month!
Hi Rinzu. This was written for the Blogadda’s Online Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign in association with Indusladies.com, for 2010.
Thanks for sharing this information!
This was very informative Shilpa!
what an elaborate and informative post. Nice Shilpa.
This is a very informative post…Nice Shilpa
Very informative post Shilpa. Thanks for sharing.
Such an informative post Shilpa.. Each aspect described well !!