The Pennsylvania Department of Health wants you to know breast cancer is treatable if caught early.
With nearly 2,000 breast cancer-related deaths among Pennsylvanians per year, you can help save more lives by encouraging the women in your life to adopt healthy behaviors, detect early signs and support research to find a cure.
Lessen the Risk
According to the American Cancer Society, there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer.
In fact, old age, being born a woman, early menstruation, late menopause, family history, inherited gene changes, and many other breast cancer risk factors cannot be avoided. Be wary of false information, too. The National Cancer Institute reports it is not true that underarm deodorant or antiperspirant, cigarette smoking, abortions, making diet changes and taking vitamins, statins, or bisphosphonates affect the risk of breast cancer. Also, studies have not proven increased risk due to exposure to chemicals in the environment and it is unclear whether oral contraceptives affect risk.
However, clinical trials indicate you can be proactive and possibly lessen your personal chance of getting breast cancer through:
- Regular exercise
- Early pregnancy
- Breast-feeding
- Risk-reducing mastectomy
- Risk-reducing oophorectomy
Recognize the Symptoms
Early diagnosis is key. Early detection and better treatments have led to improved survival for people of all ages and races in all stages of breast cancer. Perform a monthly breast self-exam and talk to a health care professional if you notice the following signs in your underarm or breast, including the nipple and areola:
- Tenderness, redness, or swelling
- A lump, dimpling, or thickening
- Enlargement of pores or change in skin texture resembling that of an orange
- Unexplained change in size or symmetry
- Clear or bloody discharge
Hope for a Cure
Researchers are working to find better medical treatments for breast cancer. How breast cancer is treated depends on its type and stage. Methods can be used for relieving side effects of mainstream treatment or in place of them when the cancer is advanced. Options for treating breast cancer include:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Complementary or alternative methods
- No treatment
Community support groups and patient advocacy organizations can be resources for more information on how you can help those facing breast cancer.
Sources:
pabreastcancer.org
cancer.org
cancer.gov
nationalbreastcancer.org
statistics.health.pa.gov