Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Early Detection is Key For Survival

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and like so many forms of cancer, early detection is your key for survival. Breast cancer awareness should not be limited to one month, though. Keeping yourself familiar with your body is your best defense against any illness. Breast cancer is the leading cancer among white and African American women. Breast cancer incidence in women has increased from one in 20 in 1960 to one in seven today.

Early detection begins at home. Women are urged to do self breast exams and this shouldn't be limited to women in their forties or women that fall into high risk categories. All women, regardless of age, should check their breasts often. If something doesn't feel right, immediately make an appointment to see your doctor. There are some signs to look for, they are: Swelling of part of the breast, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain, redness or scaling of the nipple or breast, nipple discharge, or a lump in the armpit area. This is not a complete list of all the signs, but a few that should be a red flag to see a doctor.

Self breast exams are easy to do, and should be done at least once a month so that you can easily discover any changes that occur. A diagram of a breast exam will give you directions on how to properly examine your breasts. Follow the instructions carefully, and make sure you report any changes to your doctor immediately. Your intimate partner can also help with your self exams. Often times, a woman's partner is the first to notice changes in her breasts. Self breast exams can also be done if a woman has breast implants.

Women are more likely to get breast cancer than men; however men can also develop breast cancer. Breast cancer in men is rare, but not unheard of. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006, there will be about 1,720 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in men. Some of the symptoms of breast cancer in men are: Breast lumps, nipple inversion, nipple discharge, and a pain or pulling sensation in the breast.

The statistics on breast cancer are staggering. This disease used to be thought of as your mother or grandmother's type of illness and younger women didn't make it a habit of checking themselves or making appointments to be checked by their doctor. Breast cancer research has come a long way since the days when a diagnosis was pretty much a death sentence. Treatments and surgeries can aid in a full recovery, if action is taken soon enough.

If your doctor discovers a lump, it doesn't always mean you have breast cancer. Make sure your doctor follows through with tests and a mammogram if a lump or mass is detected. It's also a wise decision to have a second opinion. Getting a second opinion doesn't mean that your doctor is incompetent, but there have been cases where women have had a mastectomy or undergone chemotherapy or radiation treatments, only to discover they didn't have breast cancer to begin with. Mistakes happen, that's why your doctor has malpractice insurance.

There are support groups that offer encouragement and hope for patients, and their loved ones. No matter if you are a survivor, patient, or have lost a loved one to breast cancer, there are people that can help with emotional healing. A great place to start in the journey of gaining strength to survive and getting support for those you love is the Komen Foundation website. No one has to fight an illness alone, there's always someone reaching their hand out with support and encouragement to fight and survive.