October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). It is estimated that about 1 in 8 Canadian women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime and 1 in 36 will die from it. Breast cancer mostly occurs in women between 50 and 69 years of age. Most breast cancers occur in women. The main reason women develop breast cancer is because their breast cells are exposed to the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Breast cancer in men is rare, making up less than 1% of all breast cancers.
Screening:
If you are 40 to 74 years old, have a mammogram every 2 years. If you are 75 or older, talk to your healthcare provider about whether having a mammogram is right for you.
Signs:
Breast cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms in its early stages. Signs and symptoms often appear when the tumor grows large enough to be felt as a lump in the breast or when the cancer spreads to surrounding tissues and organs. Other early warning signs include:
· A lump in the armpit (called the axilla)
· changes in the shape or size or color of the breast tissue
· changes to the nipple (such as an inverted nipple), discharge that comes out of the nipple without squeezing it or that has blood in it
· puckering of the breast tissue
· thickened hard skin that feels different than the rest of your breast tissue
Prognosis:
The stage is the main prognostic factor for breast cancer. It describes how much cancer is in the body, where it is and how far it has spread. Early-stage breast cancer is less likely to come back (recur), so it has a more favorable prognosis. This is why early detection and screening is so important. You know your body best, if you notice any changes in your breasts, contact your physician. Breast cancer that is diagnosed at a later stage has a greater risk of recurrence, so it has a less favorable prognosis.
Resources:
For more information, please visit:
https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/breast
https://sharedhealthmb.ca/services/breast-health-centre/
https://www.cancercare.mb.ca/screening/info/breast
https://www.cancercare.mb.ca/export/sites/default/screening/.galleries/files/breastcheck/b-bkmk-knowyourbreasts-e.pdf
For support with coping with a breast cancer diagnosis, please visit:
https://sharedhealthmb.ca/files/coping-with-breast-cancer.pdf
https://www.copingwithcancer.ca/#intro
https://www.cancercare.mb.ca/Patient-Family/support-services
https://www.southernhealth.ca/en/finding-care/find-a-service/cancer-care/
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