By: Dr. Josh Einstein
Worth Noting:
- Sometimes the cancer may not spread further and this is called “in-situ” and sometimes it may spread outside the breast termed to as “invasive.” It may just spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes or the cancer may spread to other parts of the body (metastasize) through the lymph system or the blood.
- If cumulative lifetime exposure to estrogen were a risk factor for breast cancer development, women who are diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy should have a worse prognosis than similarly staged women who are not pregnant.
- Breast cancer can only be detected through regular breast self-examinations. Do breast self-examination within 10 days after menstruation when the hormonal influence on the breast is not heavy.
It starts within the breast tissue. It happens when cells in the breast change and grow out of control forming a tumor.
Sometimes the cancer may not spread further and this is called “in-situ” and sometimes it may spread outside the breast termed to as “invasive.” It may just spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes or the cancer may spread to other parts of the body (metastasize) through the lymph system or the blood.
In some countries like United States, it’s the most common type of cancer in women and rarely affects men.
An estimated 5% of breast cancer patients will develop metastatic brain tumors.
Chemo Brain or Chemo fog is real, not “just fatigue”. Up to 75% of cancer patients report cognitive and mental health changes during or post-treatment.
DID YOU KNOW THAT ONE CAN TAKE SELF EXAMINATION FOR BREAST CANCER?
DID YOU KNOW THAT ACCORDING TO RESEARCH 10% OF VICTIMS OF THIS AGGRESSIVE DISEASE ARE MEN?
During pregnancy, circulating estrogen concentrations are at least ten times higher than during other periods of a woman’s life.
If cumulative lifetime exposure to estrogen were a risk factor for breast cancer development, women who are diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy should have a worse prognosis than similarly staged women who are not pregnant.
BUT THEY DON’T…
But there’s more, did you know that terminating a pregnancy in women with recently diagnosed breast cancer, thereby eliminating the increased level of circulating estrogen (and progesterone) produces NO BENEFIT in the patients’ course or prognosis?
AND a full term pregnancy before the age of twenty reduces lifetime breast cancer risk by 70%
Or pregnancy after completion of primary treatment for breast cancer has no negative effect on prognosis, even among ER+ patients. This holds true even for patients requiring in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive and even for those with BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations.
Note:
- If a cancer cell is ER+, it means it can receive signals from estrogen instructing the cells to grow.
- In-vitro fertilization involves manually joining the germ cells (ovum and sperm) in a laboratory dish for fertilization .This is sometimes referred to as assisted reproductive technology.
- BRCA 1(Breast Cancer gene one) and BRCA 2(Breast Cancer gene two).
According to research from the Harvard Medical school, reported that offering patients a 2-year break in tamoxifen treatment for primary breast cancer so that they could become pregnant and give birth (64% did) had NO NEGATIVE effect on prognosis even after 7 years of follow up.
BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS
- Physical inactivity increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
- Sitting a lot in offices and not exercising regularly results in unhealthy weight gain and its associated risks.
- A diet high in processed, fatty and fast foods is another risk factor for developing cancer.
WHEN SHOULD ONE DO BREAST EXAMINATION?
Breast cancer can only be detected through regular breast self-examinations.
Do breast self-examination within 10 days after menstruation when the hormonal influence on the breast is not heavy.
Breast feeding mothers should examine when all the milk has been expressed on the same day each month.
If you are pregnant or in menopause, carry out a breast self-examination every month.
AVOID OCCURRENCE
Complete cancer treatment to avoid recurrence. If you miss out on one method of treatment, chances are high that those cells that were not affected by treatment may result in the cancer recurring due to mutations as a result it causes resistance.
BREAST CANCER IN MEN
Any man is at risk of developing breast cancer. But men who have had a relative with the disease, either male or female are at a higher risk.
The risk doubles if your mother or sister suffers from breast cancer.
The breast cancer gene (BRCA-1) and 2), is associated with causing breast and ovarian cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. The same gene is responsible for causing breast cancer in men.
Don’t miss our next episode as we dive more………………….
Courtesy Of Raising Empowered Foundation And Its Partners
AUTHOR is the programs director at RAISING EMPOWERED FOUNDATION and a medical doctor
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- The weekend mirror: Why reflection may be the most important thing we do
- Do we learn nothing? The recurring tragedy of school fires in Kenya
- South Africa’s defining moment: Why Africa must choose unity over Afrophobia
- Esther Ngari: steering KEBS to new heights of excellence and innovation
- Ethiopia mobilizes over 750,000 volunteers for cleanup campaign in capital
About the Author
