Breast Cancer - Issues Of a Woman
There are two words that strike fear in the heart of every women, Breast Cancer. This disease has claimed the lives of many women. Surprisingly, this vicious disease doesn't affect women exclusively. Studies show that women are 100 times more likely to acquire this disease than men. However, men usually have more severe outcomes because of lack of attention and care. Breast cancer makes it's home in the breast tissue and attacks the inner lining of the of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. It is within these ducts that the cancer begins to fester and mutate, causing severe pain and even death. There are several variations of this type of cancer including, Invasive breast cancer, Pagets' disease of the nipple, and Inflammatory breast cancer. Globally, breast cancer accounts for over twenty-two percent of all cancers in women. As with any other cancer, the prognosis and survival rate are based on the type of cancer it is, the stage, and the form of treatment used. Often, there aren't any symptoms of breast cancer that are visible to the eye besides a breast lump or an abnormal mammogram. This form of cancer affects one out of every eight women in the United States alone.
Although the disease attacks women of all races, African-American women have the highest mortality rate amongst those who have been compromised by this form of cancer, even though they represent the smallest percentage of women affected. This is thought to be true because of late detection and advanced stages of the disease. Also, studies show that a lack of healthcare has significantly boosted those numbers in African-American and Hispanic communities as well. The smoking of tobacco also plays a significant role in the fight against this disease. Professionals believe this habit increases your chance of developing this disease. In fact, those who've smoked for an extended period of time have a thirty-five to fifty percent chance of having breast cancer. For women at normal risk for the disease self exams, clinical exams, and mammography are recommended at the age of forty. While high-risk women and women with abnormal results should begin screening and testing earlier. The majority of breast cancer patients are women, but every year over 1700 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S alone! In fact, it's believed that over 2000 men will be diagnosed by the end of 2012. Age plays a major role in this, as does lifestyle and family history. Breast cancer uses the same attack methods on men as it does women. The major difference being men have smaller breast and produce less hormones.
Through a healthy and sufficient lifestyle one can reduce their risk of the disease considerably. In fact, these modifications help in preventing twenty to forty-two percent of breast cancer cases worldwide. Having a primary health care provider increases the success rate of breast cancer patients. As stated earlier, preventive care like routine check ups, screenings, etc. is pivotal in your fight against breast cancer. There are two million breast cancer survivors in the U.S alone, due in large part to the advancements made in modern medicine and overall care. So, women of this generation have much better chance of making it then women of the past. There are several treatments available and one should properly assay their individual situation carefully. This remains prudent because of the cancers' ability to re-emerge again and again. Doctors also recommend becoming a proactive patient and getting involved your cancer treatment. Breast cancer is not a death sentence anymore. With the early detection and the proper care, more and more patients have pulled through and gone on to live healthy and productive lives. Certainly, there have been many deaths due to a number of things. However, ultimately you have to determine your quality of life. Do you want to lay down and die or do you want to live?
