Breast Cancer Affecting Women

By Brenda Williams

Breast cancer can affect women and men alike and is the second most common type of cancer worldwide next to lung cancer. Breast cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Among women, this cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. It is more prominent in industrially developed countries than in countries not industrially developed.

There are plenty of signs or symptoms involved with detecting breast cancer. The most notable sign or symptom is the discovery of a lump. This lump usually feels different than the surrounding tissue. More than 80 percent of cases are discovered by the woman doing a self-test and finding a lump on the breast according to the Merck Manual. The first red flag discovered by doctors is through mammograms according to American Cancer Society.

If a patient finds a lump or lumps in the armpits or lymph nodes this can also be an indicator of breast cancer. Other signs are changes in the size of the breast, skin dimpling, nipple inversion or spontaneous nipple discharge. Another sign is the reshaping of it. Patients who suffer from pain can be a misleading sign . It is not normally breast cancer if a patient suffers from pain but could be other breast-related problems.

There are ways to prevent breast cancer or help to prevent the condition. Having more children, breastfeeding, and exercising three times per week for an hour each time. This exercise regimen has been found to lower the risk of cancer by up to 40 percent. High intake of soy, folic acids, and avoiding secondhand smoke also help to prevent the development of breast cancer.

The most common way for women to detect this type of cancer is through screening at a doctor's office. The screening is known as an X-ray mammography. This process is quick, accurate and readily available in most industrially developed countries. It has been estimated that mortality has been reduced between 20-30 percent because of mammography testing. Doctors worldwide recommend that women, beginning in their forties, get a yearly mammography to check for lumps.

Treatment of breast cancer, if a lump is discovered and the tumor is localized, includes surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. There is also immune therapy and hormone therapy for patients. Radiation can be used following surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.

Breast cancer isn't located just in the breast. It can spread to other parts of the body, which is known as metastasis. It spreads most commonly to the lymph nodes under the arms. Breast cancer can also spread to other parts of the body via the blood vessels. It can spread to the lungs, brain, the liver and even to the bones. Almost 70 percent of the time that breast cancer spread it spreads to bones of the ribs, arms, and the legs. If this cancer is spread to the bones it is treatable but not curable.

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