| Breast cancer could very well be placed at | | | | for the disease. Topping this list are the women |
| number one among all the killer diseases in | | | | who smoke and consume alcohol on a regular |
| women today. This type of cancer accounts for | | | | basis. Women who are obese due to lack of |
| 26% of all the cancers in women. As such, it is | | | | exercise or a physiological problem come next. |
| largest killer cancer of all people in world, except | | | | Breast augmentation surgeries such as breast |
| maybe lung cancer. With so many women | | | | implants were once considered to be a primary |
| becoming victims of breast cancer each year, it | | | | reason for breast cancers. This was in the days |
| should be thought that the medical fraternity | | | | silicone gel was used as the implanting material. |
| must be having very detailed information about it. | | | | However, today with the replacement of silicone |
| But that is hardly the case. Despite the millions of | | | | gel with saline gel, the incidences of women |
| women dying each year, the causes, mechanisms | | | | getting cancer due to implants has become |
| and treatment of breast cancer still remains | | | | drastically less. It is also found that breast cancer |
| shrouded in mystery. | | | | cases run in families. Hence if a close relative has |
| A simple layperson's definition of breast cancer is | | | | breast cancer, there is a great chance that the |
| that it is an abnormal growth of a mass of cells | | | | other women in the family could get it too. This |
| known as a tumor anywhere within the breast. | | | | indicates a hereditary factor influencing breast |
| This growth is felt as a lumpy mass in the early | | | | cancer. |
| stages of the cancer. This is when the woman | | | | Though the causes of breast cancer are |
| must rush to the doctor. In fact any sudden | | | | unknown, there is a proliferation of the amount of |
| inexplicable abnormality in the shape of the breast | | | | literature about its prevention. Most of these |
| must be given medical attention immediately. | | | | methods are just hogwash, but there are many |
| There is no cause for alarm, as most changes | | | | precautionary points that women must consider. |
| could be perfectly harmless. But it is wise to rule | | | | Women must give high priority to losing their |
| out the possibility of blood cancer. | | | | body weight, especially if there has been a case |
| Another aspect of urgent medical attention is that | | | | of breast cancer in the family. It is also a good |
| breast cancer is fully treatable if it is seen to | | | | idea to have a regular checkup. The checkup |
| early. In all women suffering from breast cancer, | | | | could also be done at home with finger pressure. |
| the tumor will undergo an initial benign stage. At | | | | With two fingers, the entire breast must be |
| this stage the tumor has not started its abnormal | | | | gradually touched, poking at points to check if |
| multiplication. If it is removed when it is benign, | | | | there is any undue hardness felt. |
| the cancer does not spread, and in most cases, | | | | Some women take drugs that contain estrogen in |
| the woman gets totally cured of the disease and | | | | them. These could be for almost about anything - |
| leads a normal life. | | | | from increasing the sexual drive to increasing the |
| Nothing can be said about how long the tumor will | | | | amount of milk during lactation. But it must be |
| remain benign. That depends on several inherent | | | | remembered that any kind of hormonal disarray |
| factors with the woman's physiology. The period | | | | in the body could only make matters worse. It is |
| of benign tumor is another part of breast cancer | | | | not yet proven, but it can be assumed that an |
| about which very little is known. But the presence | | | | increase in the amount of estrogen in the blood |
| of a tumor or such other symptoms is a strong | | | | could hasten the chances of blood cancer. |
| indicator of occurrence of breast cancer. Apart | | | | There are some foods that have been identified |
| from the tumor, there could be changes in the | | | | by dieticians to be good for preventing breast |
| coloration of the skin over the breast. Other skin | | | | cancer. These include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli |
| changes such as crimpling and folding could occur. | | | | and legumes. Even oranges, tomatoes and other |
| The symptoms of breast cancer are also | | | | citrus fruits could have some effects. Soy and its |
| observed over the nipple and the areolas. The | | | | products are also good. A low carbohydrate diet |
| nipples could become inverted without reason, or | | | | is suggested. At the same time, it is needless to |
| there could be deformities in their shapes. The | | | | say that the woman must abstain from smoking |
| same could occur at the areolas, which are the | | | | and alcoholism. |
| dark circles around the nipples. In the later stages | | | | Indulging in regular exercise and maintaining an |
| of the breast cancer, there could be a discharge | | | | overall positive outlook towards life could be |
| of fluids from the nipples. This discharge could be | | | | important to remain away from breast cancer. |
| pus-like, or it could even be a discharge of blood. | | | | Some alternative therapists believe that mental |
| Even though the exact causes of breast cancer | | | | tensions could be one of the causes of breast |
| are not known, there are some women who are | | | | cancer. |
| termed by the medical facilities as high-risk groups | | | | |