October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Breast Cancer is one of the most common cancer diagnoses among women, and the second most likely to take a life (lung cancer is #1). In the United States alone, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 2 minutes. Every 13 minutes, a woman loses her battle. Breast cancer can be a scary topic to discuss, but it’s so important that you learn the facts, know the signs, and do what you can to lower your risk for developing the disease.
known risk factors
Weight Gain — A study conducted by the American Cancer Society found that women who gain twenty to thirty pounds after the age of eighteen are forty percent more likely to develop breast cancer after menopause compared to those who gain no more than five pounds.
Alcohol Consumption — Women who consume even a few drinks a week increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer. This is due to the increase in estrogen levels caused by alcohol consumption.
Lifetime Exposure to Estrogen — Exposing yourself to things like oral contraceptives or post menopausal therapy over long periods of time are known to increase your risk.
Breast Tissue Density — Breast density increases relative to the percentage of connective tissue in the overall volume of the breast. Breast tissue of lower density (higher fat, less connective tissue) can put you at a higher risk.
Activity Level — You can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by doing three to four hours of moderately intense exercise per week.
Vitamin D — Women who consistently meet their daily Vitamin D requirements from a young age have been found to be less likely to develop breast cancer later in life.
Diet — Eating a variety of healthy foods, making plant protein an emphasis, reducing red meats and eggs, and choosing whole grains and high fiber foods can help reduce your risk.
prevention
In 1980, the five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with early breast cancer was 74 percent, which has since jumped up to an incredible ninety percent. It is important to understand that the earlier the cancer is found, the more successfully it can be treated. A yearly mammogram is recommended after the age of forty for women who are considered to be at an average risk. Regular self-examinations are critical to discovering lumps in and around the breast, however, mammograms have the ability to detect these tumors far sooner than self-examinations. By taking images of the breast, doctors are able to detect the cancer at any stage.
after the diagnosis
For those with a breast cancer diagnoses, keeping a positive mental attitude during recovery is key. Surround yourself with positive people. The mind/body connection is so important to fight off illnesses.
breast cancer — stages
Stage 1 — tumor measures up to 2 cm; no lymph nodes are involved or are microscopically involved
Stage 2 — tumor is 2 to 5 cm; has spread to the lymph nodes, under the arm, or on the same side of the cancer
Stage 3 — tumor is more than 5 cm in diameter and cancer is extensive in the underarm lymph nodes or tissue near the breast
Stage 4 — cancer has spread beyond the breast and areas near the breast to other tissues throughout the body
breast cancer — grades
1 — low grade; looks different from other cells; grows in a slow organized pattern; very few cells are divided
2 — intermediate, do not look like normal cells, growing and dividing a little faster
3 — high grade, look very different from normal cells, grow rapidly and disorganized in irregular patterns with lots of division