Breast Cancer Awareness

As you might know Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022 will begin on Saturday,1 October and ends on Monday, 31 October.

This year as a good start we Pinkflower is being celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness in India for Indian woman’s, by taking part in Breast Cancer Awareness through educating Indian Woman’s. Moto of this article is to increase awareness about the Brest cancer. It is always said to woman for always be open about your health & never have an awkward conversation about breast health. You need it and the support you always deserve. Increased awareness has increased the number of women receiving mammograms, the number of breast cancers detected, and the number of women receiving biopsies.

A cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. The kind of breast cancer depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer. Breast cancer can occur in women and rarely in men. Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Breast cancer is the most common female cancer worldwide including India.

Breast cancer is the most common female cancer worldwide representing nearly a quarter (23%) of all cancers in women

Symptoms of breast cancer include:

• A lump in the breast
• Bloody discharge from the nipple or discharge other than breast milk
• Red or discoloured, pitted skin on the breast
• Changes in the shape or texture of the nipple or breast.
• Dimpling of the skin,
• Fluid coming from the nipple,
• A newly inverted nipple,
• A red or scaly patch of skin.
• Breast pain or bone pain
• Lump or swelling under your arm or swelling in all or part of your breast
• Shortness of breath
• Yellow skin.

 There are several risk factors that increase your chances of getting breast cancer. However, having any of these doesn’t mean you will definitely develop the disease. Some risk factors can’t be avoided, such as family history. You can change other risk factors, such as smoking. Risk factors for developing breast cancer include:

• Obesity
• Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you age. Most invasive breast cancers are found in women over 55 years old
• A lack of physical exercise 
• Alcoholism 
• Hormone replacement therapy during menopause
• Ionizing radiation
• An early age at first menstruation or Late menopause
• Having children late in life or not at all
• Older age
• Having a prior history of breast cancer
• A family history of breast cancer
• About 5–10% of cases are the result of a genetic predisposition inherited from a person’s parents, including BRCA1 and BRCA2 among others.

How Can I Lower My Risk?

It is very important to self-examine your breasts.  Women should be aware as to how their breast normally look and feel. If you feel any change, then consult the doctor. 

You can do things to help lower your breast cancer risk.

• Keep a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
• Choose not to drink alcohol, or drink alcohol in moderation.
• Better to avoid smoking.
• If you are taking hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills, ask your doctor about the risks.
• For new mothers breastfeed your children, if possible.
• Addition of vegetables and fruits in your diet helps in maintaining a healthy body weight.

Busting the breast cancer myths

• A lump in your breast means you have breast cancer: Only a small percentage of lumps in the breast are cancerous. But if there is a persistent lump in the breast or any change in the breast tissue, always consult a doctor for a clinical breast exam.
• If you have a family history of breast cancer, you will develop breast cancer, too: Only around 10% of individuals having breast cancer have a family history of this disease. Most women who are diagnosed with cancer have no family history.
• Breast cancer is contagious: Breast cancer neither can be caught from someone nor can be transferred to someone. It is a non-communicable disease which results from uncontrolled cell growth of the breast tissue.
• A mammogram can cause spread of breast cancer: A mammogram or X-ray of breast helps in early detection of breast cancer. It requires a very small dose of radiation. The risk of harm from this radiation is extremely low.

Breast cancer is sometimes found after symptoms appear, but many women with breast cancer have no symptoms. This is why regular breast cancer screening is so important. Screening tests are done when you have no cancer symptoms.

What is Breast cancer screening?

Breast cancer screening means checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease in an attempt to achieve an earlier diagnosis

A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. Mammograms can be used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. This type of mammogram is called a screening mammogram. Screening mammograms usually involve two or more x-ray pictures, or images, of each breast.

There are many different factors that contribute to the cost of breast cancer treatment in India, but one thing is certain – breast cancer treatment in India is much more affordable than it is in many other countries.

The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it. If you combine that belief with consistent persistence, somewhere deep down you have the gumption, you have the courage, you have the fortitude to make things better. Don’t quit on anything unless you try it 3 times.