“Breast Cancer” is a disease which only just mentioned, it cand make women feel worried. But did you know that breast cancer can be treated? You need only know how to take care of your breasts and examine your breasts regularly. The sooner breast cancer is found, the higher the chance of being cured.
Factors that increase the risk of breast cancer
- Age: The divided of cells of milk duct in the elderly tends to be abnormal more than those in the young. Therefore, the chance of breast cancer is higher.
- Do not having children: Milk production in women who have had children allows breast to grow to their maximum. Therefore, the chance of divided of cell is low. Then, the risk of breast cancer is lower than women who have never had children.
- Birth Control Pills: Taking birth control pills for more than 5 years increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Genetics: if your direct family members have history of cancer, your risk will be increased by up to 10%.
Check your body carefully, if you do not want to have breast cancer disease.
Almost every disease will have symptoms or warning signs, but not for the breast cancer. For breast cancer at the early stage, there will be no warning signs to help you to be careful of. All women should check their breasts regularly to detect lesions at any stage by doing as follow:
- Women at the age of 20 years old and above should palpate their own beast, once a month, 7 days after the end of their period, to see if there are any lumps. Moreover, they should go to see the doctor every 3 years.
- Women under 35 should have an ultrasound at least once.
- Women at the age of 35 years old and above should have a digital mammogram and an ultrasound at least once.
- Women at the age over 40 should have a digital mammogram and an ultrasound once a year.
Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer
After receiving mammogram and ultrasound, if the doctor suspects that it may be breast cancer, the doctor will ask for additional medical history to find risk factors and take a biopsy sample to send for examination which is depending on each case. The result will be summarized as a diagnosis.
If diagnosis shows with “breast cancer”, the doctor will treat according to the stage of the cancer found. There are 5 treatments methods, details as follows:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Use of hormone-reducing drugs
- Targeted therapy
How to take care of yourself? To stay away from breast cancer.
As the cause of breast cancer has not been identified clearly, there is unclear prevention guideline. The best thing to do is regularly examine your breasts and avoid risk factors that increase the chance of breast cancer, such as being overweight, eating a healthy diet in the right amount, exercising regularly, and consulting a gynecologist if you want to use birth control method.
Make appointment with doctor
Dr.Komol Preechasanongkit
Breast Care Specialist
Phyathai 2 Hospital.
