Breast Cancer - Symptoms, Causes And Prevention by Jane Thurnell-Read

Breast cancer seems like a scary illness, but many women have it and survive and live healthy, happy lives, so what are the symptoms and causes of breast cancer?

What Are The Symptoms Of Breast Cancer?

Different people have different warning signs for breast cancer. Some people do not have any signs or symptoms at all. A person may find out they have breast cancer after a routine mammogram.

Some warning signs of breast cancer are:

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).
• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
• Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
• Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
• Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
• Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
• Pain in any area of the breast.

Keep in mind that some of these warning signs can happen with other conditions that are not cancer.

If you have any signs that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away.

What Are The Risk Factors For Breast Cancer?

There are several factors that may affect your risk of developing breast cancer. These include:

• Getting older.
• Not having children, or having your first child later in life.
• Starting your first menstrual period at an early age.
• Beginning menopause at a late age.
• Having a personal history of breast cancer or certain benign breast diseases, such as atypical ductal hyperplasia.
• Having close family relatives(such as a mother, sister, father,or daughter) who have had breast cancer.
• Having a genetic condition, such as certain mutations in your BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
• Having been treated with radiation therapy to the breast or chest.
• Being overweight, particularly after menopause.
• Using hormone replacement therapy for a long time.
• Using oral contraceptives.
• Drinking alcohol.
• Being physically inactive.

How Can I Prevent Breast Cancer?

The risk factors we know about include things you can do something about and things you can't. So you need to focus on the factors you can do something about. Scientists are studying how best to prevent breast cancer. Ways to help you lower your risk of getting breast cancer include the following:

• Stay physically active by getting regular exercise.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or find out the risks and benefits of HRT and if it is right for you.
• Limit the amount of alcohol that you drink.

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