LIFE: KEEP A BREAST: MUST READ FOR ALL

I have a relative who earlier this year was diagnosed with breast cancer. When I found out that she was one of my favourite aunt's, an elder sister to me and it really hit home. To be honest, I thought I was going to lose her. However, every time, I got to see her, she was always smiling. I didn't get it, until she told me that all will be well. Somehow, those words, made my heart settle. I will still have my elder sister around for a long time.

She went through the treatment process, and as of now, she is a cancer survivor.

This prompted me to do more research on Breast cancer. What is it, what causes it, how do you avoid it, is it genetic, its signs and symptoms and most of all, treatment process. I hope at the end of this blog, you'll be more enlightened of the disease as I was.

What's BREAST CANCER;

Breast cancer can be defined as a cancerous growth that inhabits the tissues in the breast. In this type of cancer, the cells in the breast region grow abnormally and in an uncontrolled way. Though breast cancer is mostly found in women, in rare cases it is also found in men. Male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all cancer deaths in men. Men, you're not excluded it seems and need to get checked on a regular.

Breast cancer is has been named as the number one killer of women of 35 to 55 in Kenya, and globally as well. According to the Nairobi Cancer Registry’s most recent statistics, breast cancer strikes one in nine women in the country, and killing many of them, due to late diagnosis.

Most schoking findings is that 95% of women in Kenya have never had a clinical breast examination and screening mammography is not widespread in the country. I have to admit, I am among the 95%. Am simply surprised that we're so many. Don't you ever think that you only need to go to the doctor when sick, not for check up, you think it will cost money that can be used elsewhere, right. Well that is me too, but this year, I will get the test ans join the 5%, plus we can get it for free during October, breast cancer month. Hope you will too.

Since the year 2000, breast cancer has been the most diagnosed cancer among women in Nairobi, of which 51% of cases were in women below the age of 50. Breast cancer mortality incidences remain relatively low in comparison to developed countries, however in Kenya it is higher.

The UK and USA have one of the highest incidence rates worldwide (together with the rest of North America and Australia/New Zealand), making these countries a priority for breast cancer awareness.

Most Common Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease.

There are different kinds of risk factors. Some factors, like a person's age or race, can't be changed. Others are linked to cancer-causing factors in the environment. Still others are related personal behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, and diet. Some factors influence risk more than others, and your risk for breast cancer can change over time, due to factors such as aging or lifestyle.

Genetic and/or hormonal factors are the primary risk factors. About 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary, resulting directly from gene defects (called mutations) inherited from a parent. Having one first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer approximately doubles a woman's risk. Having 2 first-degree relatives increases her risk about 3-fold.

Altogether, less than 15% of women with breast cancer have a family member with this disease. This means that most (over 85%) women who get breast cancer do not have a family history of this disease.

Age : Breast cancer risk increases as you age, your lifetime risk changes depending on your age:

Age 20-29: 1 in 2,000
Age 30-39: 1 in 229
Age 40-49: 1 in 68
Age 50-59: 1 in 37
Age 60-69: 1 in 26
Lifetime : 1 in 8
Source: American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Facts & Figures, 2005-2006.

Personal History; A woman with cancer in one breast has a 3- to 4-fold increased risk of developing a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different from a recurrence (return) of the first cancer.

Dense Breast Tissue; Women with denser breast tissue (as seen on a mammogram) have more glandular tissue and less fatty tissue, and have a higher risk of breast cancer. Unfortunately, dense breast tissue can also make it harder for doctors to spot problems on mammograms.

Oral contraceptive use; Studies have found that women using oral contraceptives (birth control pills) have a slightly greater risk of breast cancer than women who have never used them. This risk seems to decline back to normal over time once the pills are stopped. Women who stopped using oral contraceptives more than 10 years ago do not appear to have any increased breast cancer risk. When thinking about using oral contraceptives, women should discuss their other risk factors for breast cancer with their health care team.

Alcohol: The use of alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Compared with non-drinkers, women who consume 1 alcoholic drink a day have a very small increase in risk. Those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk of women who drink no alcohol. Excessive alcohol use is also known to increase the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and liver. The American Cancer Society recommends that women limit their consumption of alcohol to no more than one drink a day.

I think I have all the risks of breast cancer. I have had an alcoholic drink, sometime, i have ever smoked, used an oral contraceptive, have a relative who had cancer, thank God, am pre-menopause. Okay, lets go on.

Types of Breast Cancer; There are primarily two types of breast cancer to be found in most women. These types of breast cancer are named after the parts of the breast in which they start. They are:

Ductal Carcinoma Breast Cancer - It starts in the cells which line the breast's ducts, beneath the nipple and areola. The ducts supply milk to the nipple. Between 85% and 90% of all breast cancers are ductal. If the cancer is DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), it is well contained, not invasive, and can be very successfully treated. Usually removed during a lumpectomy, if the tumor margins are clear of cancer, follow-up treatment may include radiation. If ductal cancer has broken into nearby breast tissue (invasive cancer) then a mastectomy may be needed, and your physician may also recommend chemotherapy.

Lobular Carcinoma Breast Cancer - It begins in the lobes or glands which produce milk in the breast. The lobes are located deeper inside the breast, under the ducts. About 8% of breast cancers are lobular. If the cancer is LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) that means the cancer is limited within the lobe and has not spread. It may be removed during a lumpectomy, if the tumor margins are clear of cancer, and follow-up treatment may include radiation. If lobular cancer has spread into nearby breast tissue (invasive cancer) then a mastectomy may be needed, and your physician may also recommend chemotherapy.

One of the rarest forms of breast cancer is named for its appearance.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer - It is the least common, but most aggressive of breast cancers, taking the form of sheets instead of lumps. The breast may feel warm, and be red and swollen. It can also feel tender or itchy. It can start in the soft tissues of the breast, just under the skin, or it can appear in the skin. Unlike ductal and lobular cancers, it is treated first with chemotherapy and then with surgery. When caught early, inflammatory breast cancer can be a manageable disease and survival rates are increasing. But because there are usually no lumps the cancer often isn't detected until it has progressed.

Least common is cancer of the nipple, named for Sir James Paget who first noticed the relationship between changes in the nipple and the underlying breast cancer.

Paget's Disease of the nipple/areola often looks like a skin rash, or rough skin. It resembles eczema, and can be itchy. The itching and scabs (if scratched) are signs that cancer may be under the surface of the skin, and is breaking through. Paget’s is usually treated with a mastectomy, because the cancer has by then invaded the nipple, areola, and the milk ducts.

Signs and Symptoms; So, now that I know what it is, it's risk factor and different types, how do I know if I have it? Good question. let's read through the signs of breast cancer. Early detection of breast cancer saves lives. So if you have any of the following, please go see a doctor.

Increasing swellings or lumps in the breast or in the armpit. Though this may also be due to hormonal changes, it is important to see your physician for a breast exam.
Changes in the size and shape or contour of the mature breast, especially if it is prominently noticed in one breast.
Fluid, not milk, leaking from the nipple, especially in older women.
Noticeable changes occurring in the size and shape of the nipple or a nipple that does not easily return to its normal shape.
A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a pea.

Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.

An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast.

A marble-like hardened area under the skin.

New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away.

Home Self Breast Examination ; There are five steps; source the http://www.breastcancer.org/

Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.

Here's what you should look for:

Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color
Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling

If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's attention:

Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling.

Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

Step 3: While you're at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower.

Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4.

After all this, we're happy women.

Now that we now know the basics of breast cancer, let's all examine ourselves, follow the five steps of self brest examination, see the doctor on a regular for check ups, eat right, exercise, be happy laugh as much and as hard as you can; laughter is the best medicine they say. Most importantly, lets all remember that HEALTH IS WEALTH.

If you do have breast cancer, or any other kind of cancer, please remember, it's not the end yet. Enjoy life and fight for what and whom you believe in, that's you. The most important thing in illeness is NEVER TO LOSE HEART.

Like a young girl once said, feed your faith, and your fears will starve to death. We'll all celebrate.