GenQ - For the not so straight individual

After a very close family member of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago, it became apparent to me that being a woman, an issue that has always been close to my heart just got closer. And seeing as I am all about awareness, and that this issue potentially affects all women one way or another, I decided to write an article to define the illness, and give a few helpful statistics. The time to look away and ignore has well and truly passed, bringing forth a new challenge to look in the eye and stand up to.

Breast Cancer is the major cause of cancer death in Australian women, accounting for 11,700 new cases of breast cancer and 2,600 deaths each year and this number is disturbingly on the rise. All women are at risk for getting breast cancer, no matter what age. As you get older however, your risk increases. Assuming you live to age 90, your risk of getting breast cancer over your lifetime is about 12%, or one out of every 8 women.

Although statistics seem high, there are ways of recognising signs of breast cancer by yourself, and with the help of your physician. Early detection is the best method for reducing deaths from breast cancer. Women should perform routine breast checks, get a yearly breast examination by a physician (depending on individual risk of breast cancer) and get a mammogram every year beginning at age 40.

In order to perform these self-breast checks and become familiar with your breasts, women are advised to:
*Look at your breasts in the mirror - look for shape, size and skin tone of breasts and nipples and differences between the two.
*Feel your breasts from time to time. Remember that your breasts extend to under your collarbone, up under the armpit and include the area around the nipples.

When performing a self-examination, women should look for any changes in the breast which are not normal for them, or which they have not seen before. You should visit a GP if you notice any of the following important changes:
*lump, lumpiness or thickening: for younger women, which is unrelated to the normal monthly cycle and remains post-period, and for women of all ages if this is a new change in one breast only.
*changes to the nipple: including shape, crusting, a sore or ulcer and redness.
*discharge from the nipple: which is from one nipple and is bloodstained or occurs without squeezing.
*changes in the skin of the breast
*persistent unusual pain: not related to the normal monthly cycle and remaining post-period and occurring in one breast only.
*a change in the shape or size of a breast

All importantly, ways to decrease the risk of breast cancer include a healthy diet, regular exercise and extra weight loss, reducing alcohol consumption, not smoking, minimizing/eliminating extra oestrogen and preventive measures for high risk (including surgery or medication). Naturally, factors that can increase your risk of breast cancer include doing the opposite of these risk-decreasing behaviours, as well as a personal or family history of breast cancer, abnormal breast cell growth, having a first full-term pregnancy after age 30, never having a full-term pregnancy, early start of menstruation and late menopause.

For information regarding how breast cancer happens, please click the following link: http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_und_idx.html

For more information and diagrams about how to perform a breast exam, please click the following link: http://www.breastcancer.org/dia_detec_exam_idx.html

For further information on Breast cancer, or any of the information I have provided here, please click on the links provided above or here