Healthy Chic: Breast Cancer - What Every Woman Needs to Know

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By Amy Cates, Associate Editor

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer among women in the US.
Breast cancer can affect young and old, women and men, and any racial ethnicity.
Here are some facts you need to know about the deadly disease breast cancer.

R I S K F A C T O R S

Aging: 77% of women with new diagnoses of breast cancer each year are over age 50
Personal history: Women with breast cancer have 3-4 times the risk of developing a new cancer in the other breast.
Family history: Breast cancer is increased if other members of the family have had it.
Reproductive history: Women who started menstruating at an early age (before age 12), who had no children or first child after age 30, and/or experience menopause after age 50 have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy: Long-term use (>10 years) of Estrogen Replacement Therapy for relief of menopause symptoms may increase the risk of breast cancer.

P R E V E N T I O N

Achieving and maintaining a desirable body weight.
Increasing your level of physical activity.
Limiting alcohol consumption.
Eat a diet low in fat and high in fiber (whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables).
Eat less sugar, salt, and processed canned foods.

S Y M P T O M S

Early breast cancer does not cause pain. In fact when breast cancer first develops there may be no symptoms at all. But as the cancer grows it can cause changes that women should watch for. Such as:

A lump or thickening in or near the breast, or in the underarm area.
A change in the size or shape of the breast.
A discharge from the nipple.
A change in the color or feel of the skin of the breast, areola or nipple (dimpled, puckered or scaly).

D I A G N O S I S

Self-exam: The best time to do this is around you menstrual cycle every month.

Palpitation: The doctor can tell a lot about a lump. Size, texture, and whether it moves easily. Benign lumps often feel different from cancerous ones.

Mammography: X-ray of the breast.

Ultrasonography: High frequency sound waves can show whether a lump is solid or fluid.

Needle biopsy: A doctor uses a needle to remove fluid or a small amount of tissue from a breast lump to be checked for cancer cells.

Surgical biopsy: A surgeon cuts out part or all of a lump or suspicious area. A pathologist will then examine the tissue for cancer cells.