Breast
Cancer
Hello,
this is IGL and this post is about breast cancer. Breast cancer is the disease
of the overgrowth of breast cells. Tumors will form; the two kinds of tumors
are benign (harmless) and malignant. Harmful tumors can spread to other body
parts and affect the system drastically. Types of malignant breast cancer are Invasive
Ductal Carcinoma; Triple Negative Breast Cancer; Inflammatory Breast Cancer;
Metastatic Breast Cancer; Metaplastic Carcinoma; and Paget's Disease.
Symptoms
for breast cancer are not usual at first, but when signs that a benign tumor is
forming in the breast, it usually means cancer. But if you are going through
puberty, do not mistake a bud to be breast cancer. For more serious conditions,
painful symptoms occur. Breast or nipple pain, swelling, a large, strange lump,
tenderness, skin irritation, skin dimpling, inward nipple, and nipple discharge
that is not breast milk. If any of these symptoms occur, visit your doctor
immediately.
Breast
cancer is classified into stages.
1. Stage 0- Cancer not invasive or dangerous
2. Stage 1A- Grows up to 2 cm but has not
spread to other body parts
3. Stage 1B- No tumor with invasive cells, or
there is a tumor but smaller than 2 cm.
4. Stage 11A
a.
No
tumor but invasive cells found in lymph nodes
b.
Tumor
is 2 cm or smaller, but has spread to axillary lymph nodes (under arm)
c.
Tumor
is bigger than 2 cm, but hasn’t spread to axillary lymph nodes
5. Stage 11B- Tumor is bigger than 2 cm and
has spread to axillary lymph nodes or is bigger than 5 cm but did not
spread to axillary lymph nodes
6. Stage 111A- No tumor, but invasive cancer
cells clumped in lymph nodes or any size of tumor has spread to axillary
lymph nodes
7. Stage 111B- Tumor is any size and spread to
skin, and could’ve spread to axillary lymph nodes
8. Stage 111C- NO sign of breast cancer, but
could have spread to wall. Also has spread to lymph nodes near collarbone and
to axillary lymph nodes near breast bone.
9. Stage IV- The cancer has spread to other
parts in the body
Breast
cancer can be caused by many risk factors. Intoxicants, such as smoking,
drinking, and drugs, can be cause breast cancer in the future. Being overweight
and being exposed to radiation are also common ways. Radiation exposure before
the age of 30 to the chest and face is a likely cause of cancer. Obesity is a
huge risk factor. The excess fat produces more estrogen, which also produces
more breast cells. As you begin to become older, losing weight is difficult.
Junk food is also malicious to the body. Growth hormones in the fatty foods
grow more breast cells, and also make girls receive their period before the age
of 12, which is also another risk factor. Dense breasts make it harder to detect
the cancer during testing. But there has been no link discovered from breast
implants to breast cancer. But it is quite possible that breast implants may
cause lymphoma. But lack of data can clarify this
statement. Smoking is also a big risk. It damages the lungs, which makes it
harder for treatment and healing. Drinking speeds up the growth of estrogen,
and if a female drinks at least three drinks a week, it increases breast cancer
risk by 15%. People who’ve taken HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) in the past,
it can also risk breast cancer. Low Vitamin D and exposure to chemicals are
also risk factors.
Luckily,
if noticed early enough, breast cancer can be treated. Surgery is the most
common type. Lumpectomy is the removal of a tumor and unhealthy tissue;
mastectomy is the removal of a whole breast. A mastectomy reduces the risk of
breast cancer again by 90%. The female has a choice to reconstruct the breast
either by replacing with a breast implant or gathering other tissue. Surgeons
remove the lymph node as well. Prophylactic Ovary Removal is when the ovaries
are removed to reduce estrogen growth. This only makes it harder to get breast
cancer. Hormonal therapy is similar to Prophylactic Ovary Removal—it blocks off
or shuts down estrogen supply. When using hormonal therapy, often times the
surgeon would remove the fallopian tube or ovaries. Cyrotherapy is when extreme
cold temperatures are used to kill off cancer cells. However, scientists are
not sure if cyrotherapy is affective. Radiotherapy is when radiation is used to
kill invasive, cancer cells. Chemotherapy is the use of medicines to weaken or
kill cancer cells. To see if you have breast cancer, contact the doctor for a mammogram,
which is a test to see if you have breast cancer.
It
is rare for parents to pass down breast cancer to children, which is only 5-10%
of causes. The main reason is aging, which is 90%. In the United States
October
is National Breast Cancer Month. Many organizations have been collaborating for
events for National Breast Cancer Month. October 4th is Breast
Cancer Awareness Day. The breast cancer ribbon is light pink.
NBCF
(National Breast Cancer Foundation) is an organization that helps women by
providing mammograms and detecting breast cancer before it becomes malignant. They
give education and helpful advice for breast cancer and what might happen. NBCF
started off as giving free mammograms in the United States
There
are many ways to help. You could:
- Tell someone. Write an article about it.
- Stop or abstain from drinking, smoking, and using drugs.
- Exercise a lot and keep a healthy weight. Maintain a
healthy diet with plentiful Vitamin D.
- Stay away from radiation and harmful chemicals.
- If dense breasts are a burden, suggest breast reduction
as an option.
- Donate to organizations, such as NBCF or American Cancer
Society
- On October 4th, wear a pink ribbon in
celebration of breast cancer.
- Test for breast cancer frequently, like mammograms
- Receive the best treatment for breast cancer if you have it
Help stop breast cancer!
Idea+Gift=Love IGL
