In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Steward would like to take the time to educate women about the risk factors associated with the breast cancer, as well as provide tips on how to screen themselves this October. For some women their breasts change in shape and appearance several times over the course of their lives due to different hormonal fluctuations. Some women experience little to no change at all. Regardless, it is important to become familiar and comfortable with the feel and look of your breasts so in the case of any changes you are able to identify them and accurately discuss these changes with your doctor. If you ever feel a lump, or anything out of the ordinary never hesitate to call your doctor immediately. Risks Some
October is breast cancer awareness month. It is also an opportunity to bring attention to cancer awareness in general.
It is important to understand how to identify, treat, and provide education to women related to their breast health. This journal entry will focus on a patient encounter related to a clinical presentation of a breast mass. Lastly, strategies for education and self-breast exam education will be discussed.
The Real Awareness of Pink Ribbon Month: A critique of Robin Hilmantel’s “The Problem with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”
There are no symptoms at the early stages of breast cancer which makes early detection even more difficult. When tumors become large there is an obvious breast mass which is mostly not painful. Symptoms of breast cancer include breast thickening, skin irritation, tenderness, swelling, breast scales, distortion, redness tenderness, nipple retraction and ulceration, There may also be abnormal discharge.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). However, regular screening and mammograms can help reduce the mortality rates of breast cancer patients (LaPorta, et al., 2017). Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include lumps, abnormal changes to the nipple, abnormal discharge from the nipple, or change in color of the breast or part of the breast (Asuquo and Olajide, 2015). There are many factors that can put women at risk of developing breast cancer, the two most common being growing older and being female (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Other risk factors can include things such as a
Despite significant advances in research, Breast Cancer is still the most common cancer, affecting both men and especially women. In the US, 232, 670 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed along 62,570 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer in women and about 2,360 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in just 2014 .
As the cells change, it begins to divide rapidly causing a tumor to form. The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Breast cancer can begin in different areas of the breast, or in some cases, the tissues in between. There are many different types of breast cancer, including non-invasive, invasive, recurrent, metastatic breast cancer, as well as the intrinsic or molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in around 20-30% of breast cancer tumors. It is associated with a more aggressive disease, higher recurrence rate, and increased mortality.
Breast cancer can be managed by being you own self-advocate,which includes taking an active role in your care. It can be a positive experience that helps give some people a sense of control in a time of variability. Self advocacy doesn't have to be time consuming or difficult. Treatment depends on the stages of the cancer. It may range from chemotherapy, radiation, and
Breast cancer is not just a single disease. It may come in different types. One particular type and the most common is the invasive ductal carcinoma or the infiltrating ductal carcinoma. This is cancer that invades the surrounding breast tissues as it breaks through walls of the milk duct. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is another type of cancer. This is non-invasive, meaning it does not spread to the surrounding breast tissues. Another type is the triple negative breast cancer. This happens when estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2, which fuel cancer growth, are not present in the tumor. This also means that hormone therapy and drugs are ineffective for this type, but chemotherapy may an effective option. Inflammatory breast cancer is a fast-growing type that caused to penetrate the skin and lymph vessels. For metastatic breast cancer, cancer basically spreads to other body parts including the lungs, bones, brain, or liver. This is also classified as Stage 4 breast cancer. The above mention cancer types are the commonly seen cancer cases. However, there are other types which are not commonly seen such as the medullary carcinoma accounting for 3-5% of cancer types, tubular carcinoma making up about 2% of diagnosis, and mucinous carcinoma representing 1% or 2% of all cancer types (National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc., 2016).
It is one of life’s inevitable and foregone conclusions, as sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, that a woman’s breasts lose their youthful perkiness and shape. Yes there are some natural things a woman can do to keep the rate at which this happens in check, but it is bound to slowly but surely happen.
Three-quarters of all breast cancer patients are not in any of the groups considered at increased risk for breast cancer, indicating that not all risk factors are understood. As a result, doctors recommend that every woman should familiarize herself with the techniques for monthly breast self-examination. X-ray examination of the breasts, a technique called mammography, can detect tumors before they are large enough to be felt and increase the odds for successful treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that women over age 40
October is a busy month. You have Oktoberfest, Halloween, Columbus Day, and my birthday. But most importantly the whole month is national breast cancer awareness month. There are millions of people across the nation getting involved in this social movement for various reasons. For my friend, Kris, it is something a bit more personal. Breast cancer awareness movement is a tool and outlet to inform and express their emotions.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, it accounts for one of every three diagnoses in the United States. Breast cancers are malignancies, life threatening tumors that develops in one or both breasts.
Today in the world there are many different types of reproductive cancers. A reproductive cancer I’m going to be writing about is Breast cancer. Yes, its Breast Cancer. According to American Cancer Society (2017) Breast cancer is “Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. These cells usually form a tumor that can often be seen on an x-ray or felt as a lump. The tumor is malignant (cancer) if the cells can grow into (invade)surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. Breast cancer occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get cancer too (pg.1). Although Breast cancer first start in the breast, it can also start from other places surrounding that tissue or area.
Breast cancer is the second leading cancer killer among women, after lung cancer (Breast Cancer , 2014). Cancer is a word that puts fear in many people, especially if they have family members who have either died or survived the disease. No one wants to hear that he or she has been diagnosed with any disease, especially cancer. Many women do not take breast cancer serious until they are diagnosed. Sadly, once diagnosed with this epidemic, a person’s life is altered forever. Breast cancer does not discriminate and can happen to anyone at any age. To prevent this disease, one must take the necessary precautions to lower the risk factors. In fact, there are several local and national events to remind people of breast cancer’s existence. Many