Women’s Issue – Breast Cancer
Cancer is a disease that is considered fatal killer in the world. This is for the reason that a significant number of people have been affected and as of present time, there is still no cure discovered for several types of cancer known. Two of the cancers that kill women are breast cancer and cervical cancer. However like other types of cancers, these two can be treated when known at an early stage.
Contrary to what most women believe, annual breast check up by clinically observing any lump that may have formed into the breasts does not guarantee that you are 100% cancer free. Breast cancer symptoms are not initially manifested by feeling a lump on the breasts. It is not always the lump that speaks itself loudly but can be the gradual silent killer that weakens the body. This is because not all breast cancers can show symptoms and in some cases would manifest its symptoms when it is on Stage 4 or when the condition is already severe.
There are various types of cancers of the breasts and have varying degree of severity.
– Ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, is the most common kind of non-invasive cancer of the breast
– Lobular carcinoma in situ, or LCIS, is generally considered to be a pre-cancerous condition
– Invasive ductal carcinoma, or IDC, accounts for about 80% of all breast cancers
– Invasive lobular carcinoma, or ILC, accounts for about 10%-15% of all breast cancers
– Inflammatory cancer of the breast is a very serious, aggressive form in its kind that accounts for about 1% to 5% of breast cancers in the U.S. and is not defined by a lump and is not found by an average mammogram.
It is important that you are able to monitor breast cancer’s progress when it is discovered and after it has been treated. There is a possibility of recurrence and spread (metastasis) of cancer after treatment or removal.
Treatment for cancer of the breast can be done by hormone therapy, radiation, chemotherapy or surgery when it has spread to a large tissue area.
To monitor the possibility of cancer in women, annual clinical check up may be helpful. Moreover, as an added caution, women over 40 should have a yearly mammogram especially when you have a family history of cancers.
Breast cancer can be treated or removed when discovered at an early stage. Make an annual visit to your physician and make sure that you have a healthy body.
Riza C. Belgira is health enthusiast and an advocate of strengthening women’s health and well-being through informative health resources and articles.
