Editorial

                                                                
              BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.                           
       Cancer is a very common disease nowadays. Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women, after skin cancer. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. Yes, it’s that bad!!! The good news is that many women survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. A mammogram- the screening test for breast cancer- can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat.
            National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer, new treatments and a better understanding of the disease. The fact that men also get breast cancer is often overlooked, but the truth is they do too. It could just be said that it’s far more common in women than men. Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths has been declining. Everyone’s breasts are different; altering with age and at different times of the month. Look out for changes that are unusual for you, such as:
Lumps or thickening of breast tissue
Continuous pain in a breast or armpit
One breast becoming larger or lower
Puckering or dimpling of the skin
Nipples becoming inverted (turned in), changing shape or position
Nipples developing a rash, crusting or producing discharge
Swelling under the armpits or around the collarbone.  Not all lumps are cancerous, some are benign cysts. But it is advisable to report to your GP if any change is noticed. Definite causes of cancer are not known but what is known for sure is that it is caused by damage to the cell’s DNA. Some risk factors like drinking alcohol can be avoided while most risk factors such as having a family history of breast cancer cannot be avoided. Having a risk factor does not mean that a woman will get breast cancer. Many women who have risk factors never develop breast cancer.  Treatment of breast cancer includes information about staging, main treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy as well as follow up appointments.
      Make a difference! Spread the word about mammograms and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved! And yes, the month is October.