Every October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month promotes important education and awareness about this disease to people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "breast cancer is the most common cancer globally with around 2.3 million new cases every year." In the United States, www.cancer.org lists breast cancer as the second most common cancer in women with only skin cancer being more prevalent. Although we primarily associate breast cancer with women, the National Cancer Institute reports less than 1% of all breast cancer cases occur in men. Changes in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, a family history of breast cancer, and certain genetic syndromes put people at a higher risk to develop this disease.
Cancer occurs when cells grow out of control and is classified based on where the cells are located and how they spread. The American Cancer Society identifies breast cancer adenocarcinomas—which develop in the milk ducts or the lobule glands that make milk—as invasive or noninvasive. Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive type that forms within the milk ducts and has not spread to any surrounding tissues. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) is the most common type of invasive breast cancer (approximately 80% of invasive breast cancers are IDC) and occurs when the abnormal cancer cells spread beyond the milk duct. Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC), which begins in the milk glands and spreads to surrounding tissue, accounts for approximately 10% of invasive breast cancers.
Komen.org indicates that early screening with self-exams, mammography, ultrasound, and MRI, can detect breast cancer sooner and lead to more favorable treatment outcomes. Any lump, swelling, warmth, redness, dimpling or puckering of the skin, sore, rash, discharge, or pain in the breast should be addressed immediately. If diagnosed with breast cancer, there are different treatment options available depending on the type of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, these include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy, and clinical trials.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is scary, and having a support system to help you through treatment is just as important as treating the cancer. The Susan G. Komen Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Reach.cancer.org, and community groups such as Bras For Cause can provide valuable resources and support to patients.
With ongoing research worldwide, treatment options and survival rates have dramatically improved over the past several decades. If given a positive diagnosis, help is available. Please see NurtureYourWholeSelf.com for additional resources on breast cancer.
Comments