Breast Cancer kills one woman every 13 mins - 3 simple ways to detect it at an early stage

In India, every 13 minutes one woman dies of breast cancer. That’s alarming, to say the least! Breast Cancer has become a prevalent and a common disease that needs much more attention than it gets. , It is important to understand breasts and breast cancer to help diagnose it at an early stage. Knowledge can help prevention in the long run. Not every single change in your breast is abnormal. The body undergoes changes over time and not everything is alarming. Let us first understand these common and normal happenings. COMMON CHANGES IN THE BREASTS From birth to puberty, from pregnancy to breastfeeding and finally menopause, the breasts change in size, shape, colour and texture. Many women experience nipple discharge and lumps in the breast but not all of them spell breast cancer. These changes are normal and happen to most women at different stages of their lives. While lumps are the start of breast cancer, creating panic will only induce stress. Around 60% to 80% of lumps are not harmful. At the same time, they are not to be taken lightly. It is always better to visit a breast cancer specialist and allow them to examine them. Let us understand what breast cancer is and three simple ways to examine yourself at home before you head to the doctor. WHAT IS BREAST CANCER? Any cancer is started when healthy body cells get damaged and start growing abnormally. They develop abnormalities (also called mutations) which prevent them from growing and dividing in a controlled manner. This is exactly what happens in breast cancer too. The speedy abnormal cell division leads to cancer, which starts invading and destroying surrounding tissues, thereby harming the body. Breast cancer generally starts in the ducts that carry milk to the nipple or within the lobules. These cancerous cells can spread through nearby tissues or the body via the lymphatic system and blood. 3 Easy steps to conduct a self-breast examination at home - 1. Touch - Feel for any lump or swelling in the underarms, breast or upper chest 2. Look - Observe your skin. Keep an eye on the changes in the skin like puckering or dimpling, the colour of the skin, inverted nipples or unusual discharge from the nipple 3. Check - If you find any changes then examine in detail. Check if there is pain in the underarm and breast, variation in size of the breast and redness. In case you feel any pain or symptoms in your breasts, contact an expert immediately. He/she is best equipped to understand, diagnose and suggest the most suitable treatment options available for you. Now that we know how breast cancer starts, it’s essential to know who is more likely to be affected by breast cancer. The average age of women diagnosed with breast cancer is 44 years. . As the cancer is getting younger, it is important to do a self breast examination every month. It may be shocking to note that in some rare cases, even men can develop breast cancer. Women who have breast cancer history in their families are also at risk to develop the disease. Timely detection and proper treatment can ensure complete recovery. While you cannot control risk factors like age, menstruation history, family heredity, etc., you can always regulate other aspects like weight, diet, lifestyle, alcohol and smoking. rnOne of the best ways to stay ahead is to keep a regular check on the breasts by conducting frequent self-breast examinations. Early diagnosis of breast cancer can increase chances of recovery and help your doctor to perform early tests and investigation. If you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, make sure to opt for the best breast cancer treatment in Pune, or in your city. Along with the treatment, it is important to stay positive, stay strong and keep fighting. Cancer does not mean THE END. rnReference URLs-rnhttps://www.healthline.com/health/how-does-breast-cancer-spread#Speaking-with-your-doctorrnhttps://breastcancernow.org/information-support/have-i-got-breast-cancer/what-breast-cancer https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/have-i-got-breast-cancer/signs-symptoms-breast-cancer https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/causes-of-breast-cancerrn