Why is october breast cancer awareness month? Komen held their first Race for the Cure in October 1983 which garnered a lot of attention that other countries followed suit. National Breast Cancer Month (NBCM) organization has designated October to be the official awareness month, even though the organization is working on educating and raising awareness all year long. The first program took place in October 1985 when they held a week long event.
October is also known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is an international health campaign designed to bring awareness to a disease that affects 1 out of every 8 women. In rare, yet still documented cases, it also affects one out of every one thousand men.
The pink ribbon, the symbol for breast cancer awareness was invented in 1991 by Evelyn H. Lauder, founder & president of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Alexandra Penney. During the month of October people wear the pink ribbon everywhere. To show their support people wear anything pink, be it ribbons, scarves, clothes, you name it.
Breast Cancer Awareness:
1) Studies have shown that estradiol alone does not cause breast cancer.
2) Our bodies have the highest levels of estrogen in them when our breast cancer risk is almost zero. It is not until we hit menopause (when our levels are at their lowest) that the risk goes up.
3) Study that showed a small increase in breast cancer was majorly flawed. Also, the the women in the arm of the study that showed this small increase in breast cancer were also on Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ( a very bad progesterone loaded with negative side effects for the body). It is this hormones which can cause breast cancer; not bio-identical progesterone or estrogens.
4) Testosterone ( a major hormone for health and well being) will LOWER breast cancer risk.
5) NOT ALL HORMONES ARE CREATED EQUAL! Our bodies were designed to be perfect. Estrogen was placed in our bodies for a major reason. It is when molecules which are not exactly the same as our original hormones are introduced issues may arise.
6) Breast cancer is the most common cancer that affects women.
7) It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women between ages 20 and 59 (the first being lung cancer).
8) Although it can be rare, it accounts for 1% of male cancer patients.
9) Young women are also at risk, accounting for 5% of breast cancer patients.
10) Risk factors for breast cancer include age, ethnicity, family history, diet, hormonal factors, clinical factors, alcohol use and radiation.
11) People can be carrying the disease for years without them knowing.
12) You can minimize your risk through early detection.
Remember it all starts with the education, so remember to get your girls checked and remind other women close to you to do the same.
Showing posts with label Men. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Men. Show all posts
Male Breast Cancer
Male breast cancer is uncommon, accounting for only about 1% of all breast cancers. Male breast cancer is cancer that forms in the breast tissue of men. Though breast cancer is most commonly thought of as a woman's disease. It happens most common in older men, men between the ages of 60 and 70. though male breast cancer can occur at any age.
The cause of male breast cancer has not been fully characterized, but both environmental influences and genetic (inherited) factors are likely to play a role in its development. The following risk factors for the development of male breast cancer have been identified. Risk factors for male breast cancer include exposure to radiation, a family history of breast cancer and having high estrogen levels, which can occur with diseases like cirrhosis or Klinefelter's syndrome.
The most common type of male breast cancer is infiltrating ductal carcinoma, which is also a common type of breast cancer in women. Other uncommon types of cancers of the breast that have been reported in men include ductal carcinoma in situ (cancer in the ducts that has not spread beyond the ducts themselves).
Symptoms of male breast cancer include lumps, changes to the nipple or breast skin, or discharge of fluid from the nipple. The most common symptom of breast cancer in men is finding a firm, non-painful mass located just below the nipple. The average size of breast cancer in men when first discovered is about 2.5 cm in diameter. The cancer may cause skin changes in the area of the nipple. These changes can include ulceration of the skin, puckering or dimpling, redness or scaling of the nipple, or retraction (turning inward) of the nipple. Bloody or opaque discharge from the nipple may also occur.
Men diagnosed with male breast cancer at an early stage have a good chance for a cure. Still, many men delay seeing their doctors if they notice unusual signs or symptoms, such as a breast lump. This is due to lack of awareness. Some men ignore breast lumps or think they are caused by an infection or some other reason, and they do not get medical treatment until the mass has had a chance to grow. Some men are embarrassed about finding a breast lump and worry that someone might question their masculinity. This may also delay diagnosis and reduce a man's chances for successful treatment. For this reason, many breast cancer in man are diagnosed when the disease is more advanced.
Treatment for male breast cancer is usually a mastectomy, which is surgery to remove the breast. Other treatments include radiation, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy.
The cause of male breast cancer has not been fully characterized, but both environmental influences and genetic (inherited) factors are likely to play a role in its development. The following risk factors for the development of male breast cancer have been identified. Risk factors for male breast cancer include exposure to radiation, a family history of breast cancer and having high estrogen levels, which can occur with diseases like cirrhosis or Klinefelter's syndrome.
The most common type of male breast cancer is infiltrating ductal carcinoma, which is also a common type of breast cancer in women. Other uncommon types of cancers of the breast that have been reported in men include ductal carcinoma in situ (cancer in the ducts that has not spread beyond the ducts themselves).
Symptoms of male breast cancer include lumps, changes to the nipple or breast skin, or discharge of fluid from the nipple. The most common symptom of breast cancer in men is finding a firm, non-painful mass located just below the nipple. The average size of breast cancer in men when first discovered is about 2.5 cm in diameter. The cancer may cause skin changes in the area of the nipple. These changes can include ulceration of the skin, puckering or dimpling, redness or scaling of the nipple, or retraction (turning inward) of the nipple. Bloody or opaque discharge from the nipple may also occur.
Men diagnosed with male breast cancer at an early stage have a good chance for a cure. Still, many men delay seeing their doctors if they notice unusual signs or symptoms, such as a breast lump. This is due to lack of awareness. Some men ignore breast lumps or think they are caused by an infection or some other reason, and they do not get medical treatment until the mass has had a chance to grow. Some men are embarrassed about finding a breast lump and worry that someone might question their masculinity. This may also delay diagnosis and reduce a man's chances for successful treatment. For this reason, many breast cancer in man are diagnosed when the disease is more advanced.
Treatment for male breast cancer is usually a mastectomy, which is surgery to remove the breast. Other treatments include radiation, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy.
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