Myths, Truths, and Facts

Myth: Finding a lump in your breast means you have breast cancer.
Truth: Eight out of ten lumps are benign, or not cancerous. If you discover a persistent lump in your breast or any changes in the breast tissue, it is important that you see a physician immediately. Many times fear keeps women from aggressive health care. Sometimes women stay away from medical care because they fear what they might find. Take charge of your own health by monthly self exams, regular scheduled mammograms. Myth: Breast cancer is a communicable disease. Truth: You cannot catch breast cancer or transfer it to someone elses body. Breast cancer is the result of uncontrolled cell growth in your own body.

OLONGAPO CITY GORDON COLLEGE SCHOOL OF NURSING

HAWIYAH ILAGAN NAMOCA

KEN

A BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

BREAST CANCER CRUSADERS

Reaching New Heights in Breast Cancer Care

Facts Every two minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women between the ages 40 and 55. Seventy percent of all breast cancers are found through breast self-exams. Not all lumps are detectable by touch. We recommend regular mammograms and monthly breast self-exams. Eight out of ten breast lumps are not cancerous. If you find a lump, dont panic call your doctor for an appointment. When breast cancer is found early, the fiveyear survival is 96% Mammography should continue yearly after age 40 throughout a womans life.

Know your melon

Stop! Look and Feel! Sit for a While And Feel it Around

DARA ELAGO MARCIAL

MAUREEN

RAFFY JOHN BINBIN


What is breast cancer? Breast cancer is a malignant tumor (a collection of cancer cells) arising from the cells of the breast. Although breast cancer predominantly occurs in women it can also affect men. This article deals with breast cancer in women

Use of oral contraceptives in the last 10 years increases the risk of breast cancer. Using combined hormone therapy after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer. Alcohol use increases the risk of breast cancer, and this seems to be proportional to the amount of alcohol used. Exercise seems to lower the risk of breast cancer.

What are breast cancer symptoms and signs? The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast. In addition, the following are possible signs of breast cancer:

What causes breast cancer? There are many risk factors that increase the chance of developing breast cancer. Although we know some of these risk factors, we don't know how these factors cause the development of a cancer cell.

Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important. While mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can feel a lump, breast selfexams help you to be familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert your healthcare professional if there are any changes. HOW SHOULD A BREAST SELF-EXAM BE PERFORMED? 1) IN THE SHOWER Using the pads of your fingers, move around your entire breast in a circular pattern moving from the outside to the center, checking the entire breast and armpit area. Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot. Notice any changes and get lumps evaluated by your healthcare provider. 2) IN FRONT OF A MIRROR Visually inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead. Look for any changes in the contour, any swelling, or dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Next, rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly matchfew women's breasts do, so look for any dimpling, puckering, or changes, particularly on one side. 3) LYING DOWN When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads

Nipple discharge or redness Breast or nipple pain Swelling of part of the breast or dimpling

What are breast cancer risk factors? Some of the breast cancer risk factors can be modified (such as alcohol use) while others cannot be influenced (such as age). It is important to discuss these risks with your health care professional any time new therapies are started (for example, postmenopausal hormone therapy). The following are risk factors for breast cancer:

It is best to detect breast cancer before any of these signs occur by following screening mammography guidelines. You should discuss these or any other findings that concern you with your health care professional.

Age Family history Personal history Women diagnosed with certain benign breast conditions have an increased risk of breast cancer. These include atypical hyperplasia, a condition in which there is abnormal proliferation of breast cells but no cancer has developed. Menstruation: Women who started their menstrual cycle at a younger age (before 12) or went through menopause later (after 55) have a slightly increased risk. Race: White women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, but African-American women tend to have more aggressive tumors when they do develop breast cancer. Exposure to previous chest radiation or use of diethylstilbestrol increases the risk of breast cancer. Having no children or the first child after age 30 increases the risk of breast cancer. Breastfeeding for 1 to 2 years might slightly lower the risk of breast cancer. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer.

Breast Self-Exam
ONCE A MONTH Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month.

of your fingers around your right breast gently in small circular motions covering the entire breast area and armpit. Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.