How to Protect Yourself Against Breast Cancer, The No 1 Cancer of women.

Breast cancer is the world’s number one cancer that affects women. The two major risk factors for breast cancer are female sex and older age. Those women who are genetically predisposed may get breast cancer in earlier ages, that is 30-40 years. But breast cancer after menopause can merely be a disease of ageing only. So every woman has a great threat of breast cancer and is present all the time. Breast cancer, if diagnosed earlier is completely curable. Surgery, chemo, and radiotherapy have proven 100% results. But all this only work if you caught your cancer early.

Do You Know? Pink ribbon is used to represent breast cancer. It is a symbol of breast of cancer and pink is the color that represents breast cancer.

Which country has highest risk of breast cancer in Asia? Click here

Today the purpose of writing this article is to educate all the women, especially those who belong to developing countries, about the prevention and protection of themselves against breast cancer. I highly recommend that you must share this article as much as possible in order to spread this information to more and more females.

You have more risk of getting breast cancer if;

1. You are older
2. You have a family history of breast cancer, that is your mother, sister or aunt has it.
3. You had your first menstrual period in a comparatively earlier age (before 12) or had your menopause after 55.
4. You have no child or had your first child in older age, (after 30y of age)
5. You are overweight.
6. You smoke or drink alcohol.
7. Your cholesterol is high.
8. You have dense or enlarged breast tissue.
9. You don’t or hadn’t breastfed your children for 1 and a half to 2 years.
10. You have taken oral contraceptives for a long time.
11. You don’t exercise or do physical activity for about 30min to 1 hour per day
12. You had or have a lump in your breast that was n’t or isn’t diagnosed as cancer.
13. Or you are getting or got hormone replacement therapy after menopause.

So, if you have one or more of the above factors you are at higher risk. But if you don’t have any of the above factors, still you have a risk because you are a female, you have breasts, and your age is increasing and with age the risk of breast cancer increases.
So what precautions you should take to avoid or protect yourself against getting breast cancer. Read carefully the below paragraphs and follow what is written and don’t forget to share.

1. Self Examination:

The easiest and convenient method is self-examination. Do self-examination of your breast at least once a month or more if you can. Choose a date. Those who are menstruating should do their breast self-examination when their bleeding stop and they go for taking a shower. Postmenopausal women and pregnant women can choose any fixed date of a month.

2. Mammography and Clinical Examination of Breasts.

At least once a year, you should visit the breast clinic to have a professional examination of your breasts. A doctor will do your breast mammography, that has the ability to detect hidden breast cancers. In developed countries, every woman after 40 years of age automatically enters into the breast screening program, where they have their thorough breast examination every year. But in developing countries, this is yet a dream. This is very important, a mammogram, which takes only 2-3 hours of yours can save you from far greater sufferings and I am sure you can spare a few hours for yourself every year. The purpose of mammography is to catch breast cancer in its earlier stages so that we can eliminate it completely.

3. Genetic Testing.

Some women who have a family history, they should have their DNA examination for the presence of absence of BRCA 1, BRCA 2 and other genes that have a strong association with breast cancer. For example, if a woman has a BRCA gene, then there is an 80% chance that she will get breast cancer in her life. This facility is not available everywhere in developing countries, but those who can afford should go for it. In western countries, those women who are found to be having these genes, are offered precautionary mastectomy (surgical removal of breasts) and reconstruction. And if they can’t accept this offer then they are asked to have their examination more often (every 3 – 6 months) as compared to BRCA-negative women.

4. Avoid Risk factors.

I have already explained the risk factors above. Try to avoid those you can. For example, if you are using contraceptives, drinking alcohol or smoking then you must stop. If you are overweight then you can lose weight. If you are not exercising then you can start it now. Don’t regret those you can’t change, try to modify those you can.
I will not go into other details that you may find on other health-related websites. I request all the women to read the above 4 points carefully and follow them. Educate your sisters and daughters about the prevention of breast cancer. I am sure if you follow the above steps and we educate our friends and family about this threatening disease then that time is not far when this deadly disease will no more be a problem at all.  Share this article on facebook, twitter or by email for maximum exposure.

Author:

Dr. Adil Ramzan – Founder of Medicotips.com

References:

American Cancer Society: Url: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-risk-factors