#AIR-CLINIC HEALTH TALK: How To Prevent Breast Cancer!

Hello Air-Clinicians & Friends,

We are dedicating today as part of our Cancer Awareness Campaign. Like we have mentioned earlier, we are majoring on Preventive Medicine rather than Curative Medicine. That means that we value making illnesses not happen at all than treating them. All the activities we are doing today will tally with this message;

Daily Health Discussion: How To Prevent Breast Cancer
Question & Answer Session: '' '' '' '' '' '' '' ''
CLINIC-FM: Interview of the #ACOF TEAM + Cancer Awareness Campaign Outreach Details

Introduction:

Breast Cancer is the commonest female cancer. Infact its quite common that it affects 1 in every 8 women in America. In the developing world, the consequences are even more dire due to poor early screening and treatment resources.

Worldwide, breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women, accounting for 25% of all cancer cases. In 2012 it resulted in 1.68 million new cases and 522,000 deaths. It is more common in developed countries and is more than 100 times more common in women than in men.
Wikipedia

Risk factors:

You are more likely to develop breast cancer if you meet these factors;

being female (yes it also occurs in males)
obesity/overweight,
lack of physical exercise,
smoking,
drinking alcohol,
high fatty diet
hormone replacement therapy during menopause,
exposure to ionizing radiation,
early age at first menstruation,
having children at a late age (>35yrs) or not having children at all,
lack of breast feeding of children
older age ( commonest in 40-60years age ranges but occurs in lower ages (20-30yrs) when there's a family history),
positive family history. (About 5–10% of Breast Cancer cases, are accounted for by presence of similar gene in the mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and every other female in the bloodline)

Signs & Symptoms

Lump In The Breast: this is a very important symptom because its present in about 80% of cases.
Skin Changes: including Redness, excessive veins on the breast, dimpling of the breast skin, a nipple changing position or shape or becoming inverted, skin puckering, a rash on or around a nipple
Nipple Discharges: discharge of blood, greenish or yellowish fluid are not good at all
Breast Pain: Continuous pain on breast a part of the breast or armpit
Others: Breast swelling, breast enlargement (especially when marked on one side), breast itching, erythema, ulceration,
_ In Late Cases: there will be evidence of distant organ spread and damage. For example in the lungs, bones, brain etcz. The patient maybe coughing out blood with chest pain etcx.

One important thing to note is that;

Not all breast lumps are cancerous. Infact, most (80%) are non-cancerous (benign). But it takes a healthcare professional to detect which is which. Also they request some common tests/investigations to determine which is which.

Diagnosis

The triad for the diagnosis of BrCa is Physical Examination + Breast Radiography + Tissue Biopsy/Cytology

PREVENTION OF BrCa: Simple Practices That Save You From Breast Cancer!

We will list these in order of ease.

1- Breast Self-Examination: please endeavour to examine your breast from time to time. Eg while taking your bath etc. Also take time to look at your breast on the mirror. If you notice any abnormal lump or skin changes or nipple discharges or pain, please report to the nearest health center immediately ( AIR-CLINIC is the nearest globally).
2- Lifestyle Modifications: if you have been taking cigarette and alcohol indiscriminately, please stop it now. Go for jogging. Improve your general well being.
3- Screening With Mammogram/Breast Ultrasound. This is particularly important when there is a positive family history. When you have sisters, aunts etc that have or have had breast cancer, please check yourself often.
4- Pre-emptive Management: do you know that Angelina Jolie went as far as removing her 2 breasts (mastectomy) and ovaries just to prevent breast cancer? Knowing that she has BRCA 1/2 Gene in her family.
5- Please marry early, copulate, multiply and breastfeed your child. All these may sound funny but they help prevent this dangerous scourge from coming near you.

NOTE:

There are many more things to be discussed under BrCa . We will not like to overload you with information as our main aim is to get you to prevent this scourge.

For further questions or enquires, attend the DAILY HEALTH DISCUSSION today on #AIR-CLINIC.