On the occasion of Breast Cancer Awareness Month …

…we get involved, informed and protected!

Breast cancer isn’t a lost battle. The stories of so many women (99% of the cases affect women) who came out victorious prove it. Scientific knowledge and modern therapeutic methods help most women to overcome the disease and live a completely normal life. Yet, the first and most important step towards this direction is prevention, which can only be achieved through proper information.

What is breast cancer?

The breast consists of the lobules (glands that produce milk) and the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple). When one or more cells from the breast ducts or lobules become abnormal (mutated), a rapid and uncontrolled proliferation begins. Initially, they stay inside the ducts (non-invasive ductal carcinoma), then they can break through the duct wall and form a tumor (invasive cancer), thus having the ability to migrate to other parts of the body, such as bones, lungs, liver or elsewhere and grow locally (metastases).

Before getting agitated, it’s worth emphasizing that not every breast lump is necessarily cancer. There are also benign tumors, which are usually smooth, don’t spread to other organs, and their removal implies their non-recurrence.

Breast cancer risk factors

It’s true that there is no basic and clear cause of the creation of cancer, nevertheless the scientific community has agreed on the existence of specific factors that influence (not necessarily lead to!) its appearance:

Age: About 80% of cases concern women > 50 years old.

Heredity: Family history is a particular risk factor. When a woman has a first-degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) with breast cancer (or cervical cancer), she is at increased risk of developing cancer herself.

Personal history: A history of cancer in one breast implies an increased risk for the other breast as well.

Early menstruation and late menopause: Anything that affects the long-term exposure of the breast to estrogen also affects the risk of developing cancer.

Lack of exercise – obesity: Regular, vigorous exercise during childbearing years can reduce risk of breast cancer. Conversely, the greater the percentage of adipose tissue in the body, especially after menopause, the higher the estrogen levels and the greater the possibility of developing the disease.

Excessive alcohol consumption: Alcoholic beverages, given that they increase the concentration of estrogen in blood, demonstrate a moderate correlation with the risk of developing breast cancer.

Prevention is life

The successful treatment of breast cancer lies in its detection at an early stage. However, in early stages, there are no “warning” symptoms and no pain is caused. For this reason, practices that contribute to its early detection are (literally) lifesavers!

We don’t forget, don’t neglect, don’t omit:

• Breast self-examination
• Clinical breast examination by the doctor
• Mammogram and other breast imaging tests (women between 35-40 should have their first mammogram, while women over 40 should have a mammogram and/along with a clinical examination once a year)

This article is dedicated to everyone!

Breast cancer, if diagnosed early, is successfully treated.

Prevention saves lives!