Being Breast Cancer Aware

Breast cancer is the most common cancer women may have to face in their lifetime, besides melanoma. Breast cancer can attack at any age in life, but is more likely to occur in women over 40. There are certain factors that may cause some women to have an even greater risk of breast cancer than others.

Some of these factors would be if other female members of your family have developed breast cancer at a certain stage in life. A relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50.

Some physicians suggest that if you have had a lot of radiation therapy to the chest, you are far more likely than normal to develop breast cancer.

Some factors may only raise your risk by a small amount, such as beginning your menstrual cycle at an early age or going through menopause at a late stage in life. Having no children can also slightly increase your risk. Getting pregnant after you turn 30 or older.

Gaining a significant amount of weight has also been known to slightly raise your chances. Drinking more than 1 alcoholic drink per day will also raise your chance of getting breast cancer slightly.

Most breast cancers occur in women with no factors other than getting old. However, it isn't just seniors who are diagnosed with breast cancer, young women are plagued with it as well. That's why it's extremely important that we get our mammograms and breasts exams on time.

As you know, breast cancer is not something that you 'get' or can 'catch' like a case of chicken pox or mumps. Breast cancer develops over time beginning with tiny cells that grow and mutate and eventually break away and join with other cells which then turn malignant. When you have a cancerous tumor, aggressive therapy is very often recommended because the cancer cells can break away and travel through the blood stream, which takes the cancer to the blood stream and often to other parts of the body. Cells from breast cancer have been known to spread to the armpits and to the blood vessels, which then carry the cancerous cells to the lungs or liver.
Breast cancer in its early stages is often painless.

Monthly breast checks are also important for us to do on our own. They provide that extra 'heads up' we need to feel protected and to take notice of any problems before they develop. When in the process of your self breast exam make sure and look out for any lumps or thickening anywhere in your breast. A nipple that is pushed in and hasn't always been that way. Discharge from the nipples and any change in the shape or texture of your nipples. These are all visible signs that you will be able to see as you check your breasts.

A mammogram is also another way doctors have to check your breast for breast cancer. A mammogram is an x-ray taken of the breast. It's not painful and only takes a few minutes. Mammograms are usually not done in women younger than 40, mainly because breast tissue in younger women is to dense to give an accurate study. A mammogram can reveal a potential problem long before they can be felt by you or your doctor. Breast cancer is a very real, very important issue plaguing women today. The statistics on the survival rate for breast cancer with early detection is very high. Which is why it's so important to maintain regular physicals for breast health. For more information on protecting yourself against breast cancer visit www.webmd.com/.../breast-health-in-women