Among Asian countries, the Philippines has the No.1 incidence of breast cancer. “Three out of 100 (Filipino) women will get breast cancer before age 75 and one out of 100 will die before reaching 75,” an official of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology reported.
Breast cancer accounts for 15 percent of all new cancer cases in the country for both sexes and 8 percent of all cancer deaths. “So, you can just imagine the magnitude of the problem,” the oncology society official pointed out.
And yet, not too many really know about the disease. “Public awareness on cancer prevention is low,” the oncology society deplored. “Most Filipino patients consult a doctor only when their cancer is already in its advanced stage.”
As a result, “survival rates in the country are relatively low.”
Breast cancer usually begins with formation of a small, localized tumor. “Some tumors are benign that they do not invade other tissue; others are malignant or cancerous,” explained The Medical Advisor: The Complete Guide to Alternative and Conventional Treatments. “The potential for a malignant tumor to spread is common to all cancer. Once such a tumor grows to a certain size, it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymphatic system.”
No one knows why a woman will get the disease, but there are risk factors. These are the following, according to Dr. Rachel Rosario of the Philippine Cancer Society Inc. (PCSI): being overweight, having no children at the age of 30, having a family history of breast cancer, drinking excessive alcohol, and having early menstruation and later menopause.
Actually, health experts say there are two types of breast cancer: ductal carcinoma (begins in the milk duct and is the most common type) and lobular carcinoma (starts in the lobules).
The cancer can be either invasive or noninvasive. It is considered invasive when the cancer cells break out from the inside the lobules or ducts and invade nearby tissue, increasing the chance of spreading to other parts of the body.
Noninvasive is when the cancer is still inside its place of origin and has not broken out. However, these cells can eventually develop into invasive breast cancer if nothing is done soon.
In early stages, breast cancer usually has no symptoms. As a tumor progresses, a woman may experience pain or tenderness in her breast. She may also observe swelling in the armpit. But the most apparent symptom is a lump in the breast. More than 80 percent of breast cancer cases are discovered as a lump by the woman herself.
Generally, a lump in the breast can be known through breast self-examination (BSE). As such, the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that women should examine their breasts regularly—at least once a month.
“Women should check their breasts a week after the menstrual period,” advised The Woman Almanac. “After menopause, check your breasts on the first day of each month. If you have had a hysterectomy [a surgical removal of the womb], check with your doctor or clinic for the appropriate time of the month to check your breasts.”
Here are the directions from the Philippine Cancer Society Inc. (PCSI) on how to examine your breast:
In the shower or while taking a bath: Examine your breasts. Your hands will glide easily over wet skin. Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, the left hand to examine the right. Check for any lump, hard knot, or thickening.
Before a mirror: Inspect your breast with arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead. Look for any changes in contour of each breast—a swelling, dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipple. Then, rest palms on hips and press down firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breast will not exactly match—few women’s breasts do. Regular inspection shows what is normal for you and will give you confidence in your examination.
Lying down: To examine your right breast, put a pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder. Place right hand behind your head—this distributes breast tissue more evenly on the chest. With the left hand, fingers flat, at the outermost top of your right breast, make small circular motions all the way around the outer edge of the breast until you reach the top again, pressing gently all the while. (Don’t panic if you find a ridge or firm tissue in the lower curve of each breast; it’s normal.)
Then move in an inch toward the nipple and repeat the procedure. You will probably have to circle your breast three additional times so that every part—including the nipple—is examined. Now, slowly repeat the whole procedure on your left breast with a pillow under your left shoulder and your left hand behind your head. The whole time, take note of how your breast structure feels. Finally, squeeze the nipple of each breast gently between the thumb and index finger.
Aside from lump, other indicators include a noticeable or indentation on the breast; a change in the contour, texture, or temperature of the breast; a change in the nipple, such as an indrawn or dimpled look, itching or burning sensation; and unusual discharge from the nipple that may be clear, bloody, or another color.
If diagnosed with breast cancer, medical experts said the disease can be treated by surgery, hormonal treatment, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In the United States, some researchers are exploring treatment with various forms of immunotherapy; by manipulating the body’s immune system, they hope to improve its natural resistance to cancer.
However, there are several ways women can avoid breast cancer. Health experts are recommending the following:
- Doing regular exercise (three times a week for one hour each) has been found to lower breast cancer by up to 40 percent. Breast-feeding and having children at a younger age also lower breast-cancer risk.
- Taking plant estrogens that come from soy products; they reportedly protect against breast cancer especially when taken regularly early in life.
- Eating healthy foods. A study conducted in the US said that high consumption of fruit during adolescence, 2.9 serving per day, can lower breast cancer by 25 percent in middle age. Prefer vegetables rich in folic acid (vitamin B9). Dark green leafy vegetables, beans and peas are all rich in folate.
- Avoiding smoking and unhealthy practices. Tobacco and its many components such as nicotine and tar are proven carcinogens. If you drink, do it moderately. In addition, avoid unprotected sex, drug use and other high-risk behaviors.
- Cutting down on saturated “bad” fats. Examples include fatty meats, cheese and butter. Instead, eat nuts and avocado, which are common sources of monounsaturated “good” fats.
- Know your family’s medical history. Having a history of breast cancer in one’s family greatly increases one’s risk and should make one extra vigilant.
Curiously enough, men are not spared from breast cancer. “Many people associate breast cancer only with women,” said Dr. Kevin D. Maupin, a specialist in internal medicine. “This may be because male breast cancer is rare.”
Men are usually older than 60 when they are finally diagnosed with breast cancer. “The delay in detection may be because men seek a doctor’s care later than women, feeling that breast cancer is a female problem,” Maupin noted. “They may also be embarrassed to have their symptoms checked out and may wait up to 18 months before going to a physician.” все мфо в россии дающие займ через интернет на карту список
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