Information On Breast Cancer

Information on breast cancer is widely available to women from their gynecologist, primary health care providers, and from radiologists and technologists when performing annual screening mammograms. Information on breast cancer is also abundant on the internet and probably more accessible to women as well. You can go to www.breastcancer.org or www.cancer.org for accurate information on prevention and early detection, as well as other sites dedicated to reducing the incidence of breast cancer in women.

The National Institute of Health reports that a woman has a 1 in 8 chance of getting breast cancer sometime in their life. More cases of breast cancer occur in North America than in any other country. Research is still under way to discover what factors contribute to the development of breast cancer in an effort to decrease the rate of incidence. Information on breast cancer also states that men as well as women can be affected by this disease, though the incidence is not as great in comparison.

Breast cancer can be very insidious. I once read that by the time a small tumor is palpable, it has been present for approximately eight years. This is why breast cancer awareness is so important. Early detection by monthly self breast exams and annual check ups could save a life. Information on breast cancer also discusses the genetic factor linked to the disease. A woman has a mother, sister, or grandmother with breast cancer, may be placed in a higher risk category, and still have no greater chance of developing breast cancer than a women with no known risk factors.

In cases where greater risk factors do exist, screening is recommended at more frequent intervals. Information on breast cancer also discusses other risk factors, some that can not be influenced, such as age and race, and other environmental causes that have been linked to a higher incidence of breast cancer in the general population. Cigarette smoking and diet and alcohol intake are significantly related, as are other lifestyle factors, such exercise and stress.

Women need to be educated about prevention, lifestyle related factors, genetic or other risk factors that play a huge part in them possibly getting or not getting breast cancer. Information on breast cancer should be presented to everyone that healthcare providers come into contact with, even if the woman declines, she should be encouraged to take care of herself and perform regular monthly self breast examinations. Information on breast cancer also states that there are breast screening programs available to any woman who may not be able to access healthcare because of various reasons. Many of them are not aware of this fact and so therefore have not taken advantage of free screening and educational programs available.