Breast Cancer

Beauty of Bedford Salon Magazine

Let's Talk About Breast Cancer

The sad news that Kylie Minogue has been diagnosed with breast cancer has brought this illness into the spotlight once more, reminding us that we should all be aware of the possibility of breast cancer.

One in nine women will develop breast cancer in the UK and more than 41,000 cases are diagnosed each year. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and the highest cause of death for women aged 34 - 54 (BBC NEWS, 30 Jan 2004). Men can also develop breast cancer, although this is very rare. Its not all doom and gloom - survival rates are on the increase with over 75% of those diagnosed making a complete recovery. Early detection is vital.

So What Is Breast Cancer?

In a normal functioning body, cells grow, divide and die and are constantly replaced. Sometimes this process can become disrupted and instead of dying, the cells keep multiplying and grow into tumours. Cells can sometimes break off from these tumours and form new tumours in other parts of the body. Nobody knows why certain women develop breast cancer, but research is ongoing and early detection and better treatments are seeing more and more women overcoming this disease that is all too common in today's society.

Knowing your breasts is very important - if you notice any changes, or feel uncomfortable about anything, consult your doctor immediately. Things to look out for include:

A change in the shape and size of your breasts
Any puckering or dimpling of the skin
Any lumps or thickening of the skin that doesn't seem to disappear after a period both in the breast and the armpit
Any flaking or discharge from the nipple
Unusual pain or discomfort
A change in the direction of the nipple for example, inversion.

Know what is normal for you. Some women do experience changes in their breasts before and during their period and this is normal. It disappears at the end of your period. By regular self examination, you will know what is normal and it will be easier to identify what isn't right. By taking a few minutes out every now and then to check yourself, you could be saving your life!

Let's Look at The Breast in More Detail

Breasts are never exactly the same shape and size - this varies with hormone levels during pregnancy or the menstrual cycle. Breast tissue extends into the armpit where there are many lymph nodes that help to drain the breasts of all their toxins and to help the body fight infection.

Diagram of woman's breast showing, glands, ducts, areola and nipple
Breast: Glands, Ducts, Areola and Nipple

The cancer develops in the glands or the ducts that deliver milk to the nipples. Although some breast cancers can spread into the surrounding tissues and other parts of the body.

Reducing the Risks

We can't prevent breast cancer as it is still unknown why it occurs in the first place. Many years of research have identified certain risk factors that can influence the development of breast cancer. So, although there are no steps to take to prevent it altogether, we can help ourselves to reduce these risks.

After the age of 50, attend regular screening
Eat a healthy, well balanced diet
Take regular exercise
Don't drink too much alcohol
Most importantly, check yourself on a regular basis.

The points listed above to reduce the risks of breast cancer are what we should all be doing anyway to maintain a healthy lifestyle; however, if you do find a lump or something unusual you should not jump to conclusions, start to panic and assume the worst - it may not necessarily be cancer.

Diagram of woman's breast area showing cancer risk area
Breast area at Risk of Cancer

There are many non cancerous (or benign) breast conditions that can develop at any age and currently affect one in five women. Causes are still unknown.

When breast cancer is diagnosed, there are many treatments available and your doctor will advise on the best treatment for you. With early detection, most women with breast cancer no longer have to have the breast removed.

Cancer Support Networks

There is so much information available and you don't have to go through this alone. There are many support networks with women who have gone through exactly the same as you and can identify with you totally. Some good websites are Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign, and Cancer Research UK. Finding out you have breast cancer can be a very traumatic experience. Everybody is different and no two experiences are the same.

There is so much we still need to discover about cancer - not just breast cancer; and there are many charities that are dedicated in discovering the causes, the treatments and the prevention of cancer. For this reason, Selina and I will be running Race for Life on Sunday 17th July in Bedford organised by Cancer Research UK.