Cancer is a dreadful word almost equivalent to Death. With Cancer what comes in your mind? A debilitated person laying in the bed whose head is shaved off, with so many gloomy faces around him/her, only hoping for some miracle to happen. Cancer is such a horrific disease that has claim millions of lives.
But this is not in case of Breast Cancer, the statistics are rapidly changing. Due to the explosion in Research and Discoveries, Breast cancer outcome is not, what 20 years ago. It mainly depends on how early one catch it? The early the detection, the better are the chances of survival.
Breast Cancer:
It is the 2nd most common cancer among the females. It begins in the Breast tissue that is made up of glands for Milk production (lobules)and a duct that connects the lobules to the nipple. All women are at risk. Remember that 75% of the women who have been diagnosed with it don’t have any family history of Breast Cancer. Treatment options manly depend on the Stage at which the female is diagnosed.
Now the question is what we can do if we (Alhamdulillah) don’t fall the victim of such calamity?
Here are few guidelines which will help most of us to stay aware.
Guidelines:
Awareness is the key to be safe and Healthy.
Breast Self-Examination(BSE)
All females of reproductive age should do the Breast Self-Examination. The best time is to do 7 to 10 days after the start of the period. Here I am quickly outlining the BSE but the proper method should be for a website like WGCAF .
Look at your Breast from the Front, Right and left by placing and pressing your hands on the Hips then finally Leaning Forward and Swinging from side to side.
Everybody is well aware of their bodies .Any change in Shape, Skin changes, Nipple distortion and a Lump makes one’s headlight blinks twice.
Feel the Breasts by using the pads of the fingers pressing and covering the breast gently and firmly in Lengthwise and in circles covering the whole Breast from the armpit to the Breast bone and to the collar bone above.
There are certain factors which we can adopt to avoid the Risks of Breast cancer.
Weight Control:
Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle. Regular Exercise with adequate Body Weight drops the chances of having the Breast Cancer.
Cut Down Excessive Fat:
Refrain yourself from excessive Fat intake as too much Fat converts precursors into Estrogen leading to the development of cancer in the Older women.
Childbirth:
Taking Oral Contraceptive Pills to avoid Pregnancy and delaying the Birth of the first Child is also found to be contributing towards the development of Breast Cancer.
Breast feeding:
Breast feeding in our society is considered a norm (thanks). Breast feeding every child not only protects the mother from cancer but also keep the baby away from various gastric upsets.
The rule of the thumb is Prevention is better than cure.
Early detection, prompt medical attention is the milestones to Cure. With the development of new technology, a new Targeted Therapy with the Drug HERCEPTIN brings new hope to the cure.
As October is the Breast Cancer Awareness month let us promise ourselves that we will
- Learn and do the proper BSE (Breast Self-Examination) regularly once a month.
- Ladies greater than 40 years of age should have a Mammogram once a year.
- We should aim to spread Awareness about it among our relatives and fellows to knock out the disease.
Stay Healthy and Stay Aware
