Breast cancer is spreading and increasing its presence day by day. It is becoming more and more important for women to be aware about breast cancer. Breast cancer symptoms vary widely — from lumps to swelling to skin changes — and many breast cancers have no obvious symptoms at all.
A recent study published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) declares that breast cancer is the most common cancer in India. It has outranked all other cancers with about 1.6 lakh new breast cancers detected every year. Sadly, breast cancer also ranks first in deaths due to all cancers. One in 25 women are at risk of developing breast cancer in India, only one out of two breast cancer patients make it beyond 5 years after treatment.
Breast cancer symptoms to watch for:
- swelling of all or part of the breast.
- skin irritation or dimpling.
- breast pain.
- nipple pain or the nipple turning inward.
- redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin.
- a nipple discharge other than breast milk.
- a lump in the underarm area.
These changes also can be signs of less serious conditions that are not cancerous, such as an infection or a cyst. If you notice anything unusual on your breast, consult your doctor. Make breast self-exam a part of your monthly health care routine.
Get yourself screened with mammograms regularly after 40 years. It doesn’t help prevent cancer, but it can help find cancer early when it’s most treatable. For most women, regular mammograms can begin at age 40, but specific recommendations vary by age and risk. You can have yearly mammograms from age 40 years to 55 years. Post 55 years mammograms can be done every other year.
More about Mammograms:
- Mammograms can save your life. Finding breast cancer early reduces your risk of dying from the disease by 25-30% or more. at high risk.
- Don’t be afraid. Mammography is a fast procedure (about 20 minutes), and discomfort is minimal for most women. The procedure is safe: there’s only a very tiny amount of radiation exposure from a mammogram.
- Bring your past mammogram films/results with you.
- Don’t wear deodorant or antiperspirant to your mammogram since these can show up on the film and interfere with the test results.
- Women should get a mammogram once a year beginning at age 40.If you’re at high risk of breast cancer, have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or have had radiation treatment to the chest in the past, it’s recommended that you start having annual mammograms at a younger age (often beginning around age 30).
Prevent Breast cancer:
- Keep Weight in Check – Being overweight can increase the risk of many different cancers, including breast cancer, especially after menopause.
- Be Physically Active – Women who are physically active for at least 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer. Regular exercise is also one of the best ways to help keep weight in check.
- Eat Your Fruits & Vegetables – and Avoid Too Much Alcohol
A healthy diet can help lower the risk of breast cancer. Try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and keep alcohol at moderate levels or lower (a drink a day or under). If you don’t drink, don’t feel you need to start.
- Don’t Smoke – On top of lowering quality of life and increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke, smoking is also responsible for at least 15 cancers including breast cancer.
- Breastfeed – Breastfeeding for a total of one year or more lowers the risk of breast cancer. It also has great health benefits for the child.
- Avoid Birth Control Pills – Birth control pills have both risks than benefits. The younger a woman is, the lower the risks are. While women are taking birth control pills, they have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer especially after 35 years of age.
- Avoid Post-Menopausal Hormones – Post-menopausal hormones shouldn’t be taken long term to prevent chronic diseases. They highly increase your risk of breast cancer.
Eat healthy, reduce your risk of Breast Cancer:
No specific food can cause or prevent breast cancer. However, dietary guidelines may help you reduce your overall breast cancer risk. Include these in your diet:
- Green tea – Green tea is high in polyphenol and catechins. These antioxidants may help protect cells from DNA damage caused by free radicals.
- Pomegranate juice – Pomegranate juice, which is derived from its seed pulp, also contains polyphenols. Pomegranate juice has the potential to be a preventive tool for certain cancers, including breast cancer.
- Berries – Berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, and black raspberries, contain high amounts of polyphenols, which may have anticancer properties. They’re also high in antioxidants, such as vitamin C.
- Plums and peaches – The polyphenols found in plums and peaches may help prevent breast cancer cells from forming and later multiplying. Evidence suggests the polyphenols help kill cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells alone.
- Cruciferous vegetables – These vegetables are typically rich in antioxidant vitamins, such as C, E, and K, and are high in fiber. Cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates, a type of chemical which has cancer-fighting properties. Some examples are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, arugula, brussel sprouts.
- Dark, leafy green vegetables – The darker the green, the denser the nutrition. Greens are typically high in antioxidants and fiber, which may make them potent anticancer tools. Spinach, collard, mustard, turnip, beet greens are some good options.
- Apigenin – Apigenin is a flavonoid found in certain fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Because apigenin is an antioxidant, these foods may have anti-inflammatory properties. Herbs like parsley, celery, basil, orgenao, thyme, coriander include this.
- Lignans and saponins – Lignans and saponins are polyphenols and may have anticancer properties. They’re often found in beans like lentils, split peas, kidney beans.
- Capsaicin -Both dried and fresh chilli peppers contain capsaicin. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it has. Research suggests that capsaicin may prevent the growth and spread of malignant cells in some people with breast cancer.
- Turmeric – Our popular spice turmeric contains curcumin, a substance with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps decrease the toxic effects of certain breast cancer cells and can potentially inhibit cancer cell growth.
Being aware of breast cancer is important. As you age get yourself screened regularly. Talk to experts at our Breast clinic for more information about Breast cancer and to know if you are at risk. Please find below website link:
https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicsatkh/breastclinic.html
