Big or small, save them all. For breast cancer does not discriminate. #ThinkPink

“Big or small, save them all, for breast cancer does not discriminate.”

Did you know that 1 out of 8 women get diagnosed with breast cancer during their life time?

Did you know that in India 60% of breast cancer cases are detected at an advanced stage?

Did you know that at least 17,97,900 women in India may have breast cancer by 2020?

Yes, breast cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in women! October is here and it is time to hit the nail on breast cancer awareness. It is time to yet again remind our lovely ladies and beautiful women that “while there is life after breast cancer, early detection is the best protection and awareness is the first step towards it!”

Risk Factors:

• Age:40 to 70 years
• Family history: Having a close blood relative with breast cancer
• Gene mutation:Defective genes, especially the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes increases the risk to 55% to 65%
• Breast conditions:Dense breasts, personal history of breast lumps and a previous breast cancer
• Hormones:Early menstrual periods (onset before age 12) and late menopause (after age 55) because of longer exposure to estrogen which stimulates cell growth in breasts
• Weight:Overweight or obese women after menopause because fat cells produce more estrogen
• Alcohol consumption:Drinking two or more alcoholic beverages a day are 1 1/2 times
• Radiation exposure:Chest radiation for another disease as a child or young adult
• Pregnancy history: Having no children or having a first child after age 30
• DES exposure: Women who were given the now-banned drug diethylstilbestrol to prevent miscarriage and their daughters

Symptoms:

• breast lump or tissue thickening
• breast pain
• red, pitted skin over entire breast
• swelling in all or part of the breast
• a nipple discharge other than breast milk
• bloody discharge from nipple
• peeling, scaling, or flaking of skin on nipple or breast
• a sudden, unexplained change in the shape or size of breast
• inverted nipple
• changes in the appearance of the breast skin
• a lump or swelling under arm

Diagnosis:

• Mammogram
• Ultrasound
• Breast Biopsy

Treatment:

• Surgeries like Lumpectomy, Mastectomy, Sentinel Node biopsy and Axillary Lymph Node Dissection to remove affected tissues
• Radiation Therapy and Brachytherapy to kill cells and reduce growth of cancer cells
• Chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells
• Hormone Therapy to lower levels of estrogen and progesterone
• Medicationlike Herceptin to attack specific mutations and defects within cancer cells

Prevention:

• Exercise and watch your weight
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Consider breastfeeding
• Lower any kind of hormone intake

There! Now you know all that you need to know about breast cancer!

There! Now you know all that you need to know about breast cancer!

This October, while we celebrate the victory of breast cancer survivors for showing immense courage and strength, we would also like to say to all those battling with breast cancer- Stay strong and hold on, keep fighting until cancer gives up for you must not give up!

We wish all the lovely ladies and beautiful women a healthy and happy life!

#ThinkPink