Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October 2013

The most common form of cancer in South African women
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in South Africa, as 1 in 27 females in our country will get diagnosed with this disease in their lifetime. It is therefore highly likely that you know someone who has or will have breast cancer and it could be someone very close to you, like your mother, your sister or your best friend. So it is important that you know the facts about breast cancer, the warning signs and risk factors.

Possible signs of breast cancer
The first breast cancer symptom to look out for is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in the breast. But it's also important to remember that the majority of lumps are not cancerous, however because the key to beating breast cancer is early detection, it is always advisable to get checked out by your doctor.

The National Health Service in the UK gives some additional signs to look out for:

• A pain in the armpits or breast
• A swelling in one of the armpits
• A change in the size or the shape of the breast
• The skin of the breast is red or pitted
• The skin of the breast or nipple is flaking or peeling
• A rash around or on one of the nipples
• Discharge from one nipple
• A change in the appearance of the nipple

When you are at risk
Experts are unsure what causes breast cancer. But they have identified certain risk factors that can increase your risk of having this disease. It is still not clear, however, why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer, yet other people with risk factors never do.
Some of the risk factors for developing breast cancer include:

• Being female - although males do get breast cancer, the overwhelming majority of individuals who get this disease are females.
• Age - the older you are, the higher your risk of developing breast cancer. More than 80% of female breast cancers occur after the age of 50.
• Family history - if a close family member like your sister or mother has or has had breast cancer, you are more likely to develop the disease. However, it must be noted that the majority of breast cancers are not hereditary.
• Personal history - if you have had breast cancer before, you are likely to have it again.
• Genes - if you carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, you have a much higher risk of developing breast cancer.
• Benign breast lumps - if you have had benign (non-cancerous) breast lumps, you are more likely to develop cancer later on.
• Oestrogen exposure - if you started your period earlier (before 12), or entered menopause later, you could be more at risk. This is because you have been exposed to the hormone oestrogen for longer.
• Hormone replacement therapy - being on HRT slightly increases your chances of having breast cancer.
• Radiation exposure - if you received radiation treatments to your chest as a child or young adult, your breast cancer risk is enhanced.
• Having your first child at an older age - if you gave birth to your first child after the age of 35 you are more likely to develop breast cancer.
• Having never been pregnant - if you have never been pregnant you are more at risk than women who have had one or more pregnancies.
• Obesity - being overweight increases your risk of breast cancer.
• Drinking alcohol - the more alcohol you regularly drink, the higher your risk of developing breast cancer.

Lowering your risk
Although there are many risk factors which you cannot change, there are certain lifestyle choices you can make to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. These include:

• Ensuring you get regular exercise
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating nutritious food
• Limiting alcohol
• Not smoking

As your medical scheme, GEMS encourages you and those close to you to make these changes to your lifestyle as they can also limit your risk of developing a number of other diseases.

It is also important that every woman conduct monthly breast self-examinations. You should become familiar with how your breasts feel so if there is a change then you can detect it immediately and consult your doctor. Early detection is vital in winning the battle against breast cancer.

Mammograms (x-ray images of the breast) are also an essential tool in detecting lumps even before they can be felt. Most doctors recommend that women go for annual mammograms from the age of 40.

The truth about male breast cancer
Many people believe that males cannot get breast cancer, as they have significantly less breast tissue than women. However, male breast cancer is indeed a reality, and accounts for about 1% of cancer cases in the United States.

The symptoms of breast cancer in males are very similar to those for females. The most common sign, however, is a lump beneath the nipple. The size and stage of the tumour are important when doctors consider the prognosis (the prospect of recovery) of both make and female patients with breast cancer. Overall survival rates in men are also comparable with those of women.

References
1. Breast cancer risk factors: http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors
2. Breast cancer symptoms:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer/DS00328/DSECTION=symptoms
3. Early detection:  http://www.mycancer.co.za/breast_cancer.html
4. Male breast cancer:  http://www.medicinenet.com/male_breast_cancer/article.htm
5. What is breast cancer? What causes breast cancer?:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37136.php