breast cancer awareness | Breast Cancer awareness: first symptoms and signs

Breast Cancer awareness: first symptoms and signs

Breast Cancer awareness: first symptoms and signs breast cancer: The first symptoms to be monitored
The term "breast cancer" arouses in US our greatest fears, especially since it usually manifests itself after 50 years. Here's what we need to be careful about.

The good news lies in the survival rate of 90% when this cancer is diagnosed at its least advanced stage. The sooner it is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat and the more fortunate we are to be cured.

Breast Cancer Awareness
Nothing is easier than checking our breasts in the shower or in the bath. Indeed, just slide our soapy hand over each breast and into the armpits, as long as we already know the appearance of our breasts in normal time.

Signs of breast cancer

A mass or thickening of the skin at the chest level.
An evolution of the size, shape or touch of the breasts.
A wrinkling of the skin or a padding.
A change in the shape of the nipple, especially if it points inward, sinks into the chest or has an irregular shape.
blood flow from the nipple.
A rash on a nipple or a surrounding area.
Swelling or a mass at the armpit level.
What to do in case of apparent changes?
The presence of one of these signs is not necessarily synonymous with breast cancer. Nine out of ten protrusions are not related to cancer, while nipples pointing inwards, blood flows and skin rashes at the nipples can perfectly come from another medical problem. However, if any of these symptoms occur, or a strange evolution, do not wait and take a doctor's appointment directly.

What about menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
The symptoms of breast cancer that deserve our attention are the same at any age, in postmenopausal women or not. However, it is important to note that the risk of breast cancer increases with HRT. Studies have shown that the taking of surrogate hormones increases the risk of breast cancer up to five years after treatment. In addition, the risk is all the greater with the combined HRT (estrogen and testosterone), compared to the estrogen intake only. That is why, before making a decision, we need to discuss this with our doctor and determine the severity of our menopause-related symptoms as well as the various factors that may or might not increase the risk of breast cancer.

The importance of early detection
In the United Kingdom, the public Health system's (NHS) Breast cancer Screening Program invites all women, from 50 to 70 years, to take a mammogram every three years.
In England, this screening program now extends to women aged 47 to 73 years.