Breast Cancer Facts

Breast Cancer Facts Summary

Learning breast cancer facts can help people detect breast cancer sooner, therefore potentially increasing their chance of survival. While treatment for breast cancer has improved in recent years, one of the breast cancer facts that stays the same is the importance of early detection.

Breast cancer is often an uncomfortable topic and breast cancer facts can help remove some of the stigma that surrounds the disease. It’s important for kids to learn breast cancer facts as their lives may be impacted when a family member is diagnosed.

Increasing breast cancer awareness by teaching breast cancer facts can help support the search for a cure and make sure that people perform self-exams and seek treatment early if they have cause for concern. Checking for lumps and other signs and symptoms of breast cancer is something every woman should do.

1. Pink Ribbons Are the Symbol of Breast Cancer Awareness

In the effort to raise awareness of breast cancer facts, some groups began selling pink ribbons to support the cause. The now ubiquitous pink ribbon is a symbol of support for breast cancer awareness and is also worn to honor those who have been diagnosed or who have died from breast cancer.

Seeing pink ribbons everywhere is one of the positive breast cancer facts. Up until the 1950s, breast cancer was a subject that was not spoken about in public. Because of the sensitive nature of the disease, women did not have the same levels of support they do today. Many women suffered from lack of treatment, and the surgeries performed were not as advanced as today.

Awareness of breast cancer increased throughout the 20th century and the movement began to gain more momentum in the 1980s and 1990s. In recent years, the pink ribbon, and the color pink in general, as a symbol of breast cancer awareness has become part of popular culture.

2. Breast Cancer Awareness Is Important

Breast cancer awareness has huge importance when it comes to educating people on breast cancer facts. The most important of these breast cancer facts is that early detection can increase the chances of survival. A lot of breast cancer awareness focuses on encouraging women to be screened for breast cancer.

Some critics of the pink ribbon campaign say that while it has brought more attention to the issue, not enough is being done to promote the search for a cure. It is one of the more controversial breast cancer facts that some companies that use the pink ribbon in their promotional campaigns also make products like alcohol that can contribute to an increased risk of cancer.

Whether or not the use of the pink ribbon is appropriate in all contexts, the increased awareness of breast cancer is one of the good breast cancer facts. The more people know about it, the more comfortable society will be discussing the topic. This allows women to find support through groups and to receive more sensitive care during medical treatment.

Groups continue to raise awareness for breast cancer as they work towards finding a cure and towards improving the conditions for people who are diagnosed with breast cancer. These improvements include better treatment with more surgical options. More support systems also now include better psychological care to help people diagnosed with breast cancer cope with the disease and its effects on their mood and self-perception.

3. Breast Cancer Can Be Detected Early

The signs and symptoms of breast cancer are some of the most important of the many breast cancer facts that awareness groups help to bring to the public’s attention. By learning what the signs and symptoms of breast cancer are, the disease can be diagnosed and treated earlier, increasing the chances of survival.

The first line of defense against breast cancer is breast self-exams. By knowing your body you will know when something has changed or doesn’t feel right. Some of the signs of breast cancer to look for include a lump or thickening near the breast or armpit. Nipple tenderness and nipple discharge that is clear or bloody can also be symptoms of breast cancer.

Sometimes the skin of the breast will change and will appear rough and porous like the skin of an orange. Though the color may not change in this instance, skin discoloration is another sign of breast cancer.

Changes to the shape and size of the breast are also signs of breast cancer. The nipples may become inverted, and the breast may swell, or the breast may shrink. People should take particular notice when changes to the size or shape of the breast occur in only one breast.

4. Mammograms Are Used to Detect Breast Cancer

In addition to self-exams, and to confirm any suspicions from a self-exam, a mammogram may be used. Mammograms use X-rays to examine the breast and detect any cancer present. The goal here is to see any tumors that may be forming and are undetectable through touch or haven’t grown to a significant size yet.

The use of mammograms, which is called mammography, is possibly the most controversial of breast cancer facts. Recent studies have shown that mammograms may sometimes cause more harm than good.

For instance, for every 2000 women screened in the course of 10 years, one will avoid dying of breast cancer, while 10 healthy women, who would not have been diagnosed otherwise, will be treated for no reason! A further 200 women might experience psychological trauma from false positives during the testing.

Other studies have shown that mammography is most effective in older women. One of the breast cancer facts that is currently under debate is whether or not mammograms make sense for everybody, regardless of age.

Self-examination continues to be the most important means of detecting breast cancer early. More than 80% of breast cancer cases are first detected by women who feel a lump in their breast.

5. A Healthy Lifestyle Can Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer

One of the breast cancer facts that is part of a larger set of cancer facts is that a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of getting breast cancer. People who smoke are more likely to get breast cancer, along with those who are not physically active.

An increased risk of breast cancer has also been associated with eating a poor diet. Eating a diet high in fats and consuming excessive alcohol will increase the risk of breast cancer.

6. Genetics Play a Small Role in Breast Cancer

As further research is conducted, more breast cancer facts are established. In recent years, scientists have found some genes that increase the likelihood of someone developing breast cancer. However, studies so far have only identified genes that play a role in 5% of cases.

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation is the cause of most of these identified cases where genes influence the likelihood of someone having breast cancer. This particular genetic condition accounts for up to 90% of the total cases where genes have been identified as playing a role.

7. Breast Cancer Is Abnormal Cellular Activity in the Breast Tissue

While there are distinct types of breast cancer, they all share the characteristics of cancerous cells. Normal cells replicate and then die. This is a good thing, as it allows our body to replenish itself with new cells over time. Normal cells also generally form tissue with other cells.

Cancerous cells are abnormal cells in the body that are unable to replicate, lose their mechanism for dying, and do not form tissue correctly. There are specific chemical pathways in the cells of our body that instruct the cells when to perform certain functions. Genes control these chemical pathways. These pathways cease to function correctly when genes are mutated through heredity or environmental factors, or a combination of both.

8. Breast Cancer Is Linked to Other Types of Cancer

One of the lesser-known breast cancer facts is that breast cancer is often linked to other cancers. In the case of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, there is also an increased risk for ovarian cancer.

When breast cancer is not treated it can spread to other parts of the body. Metastasis is when disease spreads from one part of the body to another part. When breast cancer spreads it is called metastatic breast cancer and typically spreads to the bones, liver, lungs and brain.

Sometimes breast cancer is only detected after the symptoms of the lung, brain or liver cancer become apparent. Early diagnosis through self-examination is important to treat breast cancer before it spreads to other parts of the body.

9. Not All Lumps are Breast Cancer

It’s one of the most important breast cancer facts that most breast cancer is detected by a woman feeling a lump in her breast. However, less than 20% of lumps are cancerous. There are many benign breast diseases, such as mastitis, that can cause similar symptoms.

This does not mean that someone should avoid seeking treatment when they feel a lump in their breast. There should be less fear of the lump being cancerous, but all precautions should be taken. Breast cancer affects women of all ages, and all lumps that are found should be reported to a doctor.

10. Reconstructive Surgery Can Help Breast Cancer Survivors

The treatment for breast cancer is one of the sad breast cancer facts. Most women who have breast cancer undergo a mastectomy which is the partial or complete removal of one or both breasts. As time has gone on, a lumpectomy which only removes the cancerous portions of the breast has become more common. However in many cases, a mastectomy remains the recommended surgery.

Chemotherapy, or the use of drugs to treat cancer, is also used to treat breast cancer. Often surgery and chemotherapy are used in combination to remove tumors and kill any remaining cancerous cells.

For women, the social and personal issues surrounding breast cancer are most prominent with mastectomies. Thankfully, it’s one of the good breast cancer facts that reconstructive surgeons have started working with breast cancer survivors to help them lead more normal lives. Breast implants after a surgery can help women regain their confidence and overcome the social stigma that surrounds breast cancer.

Perhaps the best of all breast cancer facts is that the social stigma of breast cancer is much less than it was. Pink ribbons are a positive thing, especially when they encourage people to look for the signs of breast cancer and to seek treatment early.

Self-examination continues to be the best way to detect breast cancer early. Women should not be afraid to report any lump that they find in their breast. Breast cancer treatment options and support after surgery have dramatically increased as awareness has grown.

Breast Cancer Facts