A Caution against Breast Cancer

When it comes to breast cancer awareness, you can never be too cautious or too sure. The first step to protecting yourself from breast cancer is to be more informed and active in looking after your health. (Credit: C.P. Storm)

When it comes to breast cancer awareness, you can never be too cautious or too sure. The first step to protecting yourself from breast cancer is to be more informed and active in looking after your health.

Early breast cancers usually do not cause any pain – there may be no signs or symptoms when breast cancer first develops. But as the cancer grows, it causes lumps or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area; change in the size or shape of the breast; discharge or tenderness of the nipple or inversion of the nipple; ridges or pitting of the breast; and, change in the look and feel of the areola or nipples.

Though the exact causes of breast cancer are not known, studies indicate that the risk of breast cancer increases with age. But these days younger women are also being diagnosed with breast cancer. Some of the other factors which increase the risk of developing breast cancer include history of cancer in one breast; family history of breast cancer; early onset of menstruation; menopause after the age of 55; first childbirth after age 30; and breast-feeding children for less than 6 months.

Breast cancer can also be caused because of excessive consumption of alcohol and food rich in animal fat; obesity; usage of oral contraceptives; and hormone replacement therapy. But studies have also shown that at least half the women who develop breast cancer have none of the risk factors listed here.