The recent news that breast cancer rates are rising in Australia has shocked everyone. Breast cancer can be detected at the earliest stage through mammography and is curable if found early. So, there are chances to survive the disease in the future. However, it is always better to know how to detect breast cancer and learn how to manage it once it has been diagnosed. As someone who has survived breast cancer twice,
I want to share some tips that will help you stay in the future. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2013. After two rounds of treatment, I beat it and am back in the workforce. However, I want to warn other women about Australia’s rise in breast cancer. I want to ensure I don’t pass on my experience to anyone else. I want to share my story with you, hoping it will save you or your loved one from going through what I did.
For every woman, the fear of breast cancer is real. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women aged 20 to 54. This is because it kills more women than any other form of cancer. Even though the survival rate has increased dramatically over the last 30 years, breast cancer is still the second most common cancer diagnosed in women, behind only skin cancer.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is common, but unfortunately, it is not uncommon to find cases. Breast cancer is often treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, or a combination. Managing your risk factors for breast cancer depends on your family history and lifestyle. If you have a mother or sister with breast cancer, you may want to talk to your doctor about screening and managing your risk factors.
If you have other risk factors, such as age, race, and the presence of a gene mutation, you may also want to consider having regular screenings for breast cancer. You can help lower your risk by Avoiding alcohol, Exercising, Getting enough sleep, and not smoking. Reducing weight if you are overweight Breast self-exams: The first step in preventing breast cancer is to do regular self-exams for your breasts. The best time to check is after a bath or shower when your skin is wet and smooth.
Types of breast cancer
Here are some of the types of breast cancer you may encounter.
• Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer and the most aggressive.
• Invasive lobular carcinoma – This type of cancer grows slower than invasive ductal carcinoma and is less likely to spread.
• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is non-invasive breast cancer. If detected early, it has a good chance of being cured by surgery.
• Metastatic breast cancer is when cancer cells travel through the bloodstream and invade other body parts.
Breast Cancer Symptoms
The most common symptom of breast cancer is a change in a woman’s normal breast appearance. Other symptoms include lumps in the breasts, swelling of the lymph nodes, nipple discharge, skin changes, redness, fever, pain, and changes in bowel habits. Women can risk developing breast cancer due to family history, genetics, age, and diet. There is no single test to diagnose breast cancer, so doctors rely on a combination of tests. These include mammograms, clinical exams, blood work, and biopsies.
What Are The Treatments For Breast Cancer?
The main treatment for breast cancer is surgery. Your doctor will remove the lump(s), check for spread to the lymph nodes, and perform any needed biopsies. Depending on the type and stage of breast cancer, they may recommend chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of therapies. While there is no cure for breast cancer, many treatments are available to fight it and extend your life. If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you’re not alone. Approximately 5.7 million women worldwide are currently living with breast cancer.
How Does Breast Cancer Spread?
Breast cancer is a very rare form of cancer. But if you have breast cancer, you can take steps to ensure you have a healthy future. Breast cancer generally spreads from the primary tumor (the source of cancer) into nearby lymph nodes and the bloodstream. If the cancer cells reach other body parts, such as bones, lungs, liver, or brain, then it is considered metastatic. In most cases, cancer has already reached a stage where it is not curable, and treatment is focused on managing symptoms.
Frequently asked questions about Breast Cancer.
Q: What can women do to prevent breast cancer?
A: We can make sure we get annual mammograms. In the early stages of breast cancer, there are different tests we can use to determine if we need to have a biopsy. We can also ensure we get the proper nutrition, exercise, and not smoke.
Q: How does breast cancer spread?
A: If it stays in one area, it can spread to nearby lymph nodes or other sites.
Q: Is there anything we can do to treat breast cancer?
A: There are different treatments for breast cancer, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or a combination of all three.
Q: Are there any side effects from chemotherapy?
A: Some side effects include fatigue, nausea, and hair loss.
Myths about Breast Cancer
1. There are no risk factors for breast cancer.
2. Breast cancer only occurs in women.
3. Breast cancer can only occur due to an autoimmune problem.
Conclusion
Now, let’s talk about survival rates. A lot of people forget about this aspect of breast cancer. But it’s important to understand what is happening with breast cancer survival rates. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. As of 2015, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. And 1 in 40 women will die of breast cancer. That means that if you’re reading this, chances are you or someone you know has been affected by breast cancer. As of 2018, there have been improvements in survival rates. This is largely due to early detection and aggressive treatment. But still, we need to do more to prevent breast cancer in the first place.
