Breast Cancer: Be On The Lookout For These Warning Signs
There can be little doubt that breast cancer is a major disease, deserving serious attention. It proved fatal for over half a million people worldwide in 2005 alone. Lung cancer is the only type to generate more diagnoses than breast cancer, and breast is the fifth most common. However, many steps can be taken to reduce your chance of succumbing to it's ravages.
A lump in the breast is often the first sign of this disease. The lump generally feels different from the surrounding breast tissue. You should immediately see your physician if you discover a lump. Your physician will follow up with appropriate tests and examinations, such as a mammogram, to determine the nature of the lump.
There are other signs like change in size or shape of the breasts, the skin getting dimpled, nipple inversion or a discharge from a single nipple, etc. If there is pain in the breast it is time to go to the doctor. We cannot say for sure that it is a symptom of breast cancer but no harm checking as it could be something else.
Discovering these symptoms should not be cause for immediate alarm. Most of the time, the cause of the symptoms is not cancer. But the risk of cancer is very real, the consequences of cancer are severe, and the disease is progressive, so one should never delay scheduling an appointment with their health care professional.
So what happens if you are diagnosed with breast cancer? What can you expect? There are a lot of treatment options that your doctor will be sure to explain to you. Some women are so terrified of the worst case scenario, a mastectomy, that they are shy to get help. Be assured this is a last ditch effort and should not prevent you from seeking medical attention.
Breast cancer is a scary subject, but it is a treatable disease. The odds of finding the disease early and keeping from becoming fatal are higher for those women who are proactive and perform monthly self-exams and regularly visit their health care practitioners. For those who are diagnosed with breast cancer, many support groups are available.
According to recent research conducted by the American Cancer Society, on an average an eighth of all females are bound to suffer from breast cancer. Although tumors of the mammary glands is not as widespread as heart ailments, nonetheless it evokes morbid dread due to the possibility of illness, fatality, and mastectomy. Any cancer risk is determined on several complex issues that are not yet well understood. Changes to the breast, including any noticeable abnormalities, should be immediately brought to the attention of a physician. Tests to screen for cancer, such as the mammogram, should be performed as recommended by your doctor.
Published August 30th, 2008
