October is the month set aside by major breast cancer charity organizations to increase awareness of breast cancer and also to raise funds for research into the cause, prevention, treatment and cure.
The major reason why it is on the increase is because alot of women have refused to get tested which sounds really silly to me. Early detection can save your life. A good friend of mine noticed lumps in her breast and she had it removed and she is alright now but there are still ladies that know they have lumps yet they don't tell their doctor. Someone once told me "when you don't know you have it, it would not kill you" BIG LIE!
I know women that have died from this because they hid the truth and I also know those that are ALIVE because it was detected early.
Before I forget, some men also have breast cancer so please if you notice a lump in your breast, don't be shy. Go and see your Doctor.
There's more information below:
Women and men diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer have a 100 percent chance of survival after treatment. Those diagnosed with stage II have a 98 percent chance; virtually everyone survives this stage for at least five years. After stage II, survival rates drop quickly. Those diagnosed with stage IIA breast cancer have a 92 percent survival rate, while those with stage IIB face an 81 percent chance. Stage IIIA has a 67 percent survival rate, and with stage IIIB the rate drops to 54 percent. Those with stage IV breast cancer, the most advanced stage, face a mere 20 percent chance that they will live five years after the diagnosis. When diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, the patient and treating physician have the difficult task of developing an aggressive treatment plan while maintaining a reasonable quality of life for the patient. Treatment plans at this stage are very personal and require much time and consultation between the patient, physicians, and family members. It is important to note that, while stage IV survival rates may be less than optimal, many individuals can and do survive stage IV breast cancer for a good number of years after their diagnosis, adding several quality years to their life.
These breast cancer survival facts underline how vital it is to do monthly self-exams, get a yearly mammogram, and see a doctor as soon as any symptoms arise.
Finally, you need to know that:
1. Breast cancer can be hereditary due to some abnormal gene passed from parent to child.
2. Obese and overweight women higher risk of been diagnosed of breast cancer than women who maintain healthy weight.
3. Research strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of the chemicals in plastic products, such as bisphenol A (BPA), may cause cancer in people.
I hope you found this informative please don't forget to do the monthly self examination and your annual mammogram.
1 comment:
Thanks for the information. I didn't realise that there were so many different stages to breast cancer, so it was really interesting to read about this. There are a number events in my area this week about the awareness of breast cancer, so I hope many women take up the opportunity to learn more. Nice Post.
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