chest cancer is a disease that has plagued women around the world for many years and has claimed may loved. These are certain things you must know about it
I had one of the greatest “rude awakenings” last week, when a regular reader of this column, who was off the radar for some time, sent me a Whatsapp text from United States stating “doc, I am in US now, I have chest cancer, and I just had surgery(partial mastectomy) .
The Lady is a Ph.D holder, although from Anambra, but resides in Kaduna. On further communications she requested that I refresh my readers’ memories, by discussing chest cancer again.
Yes, I have discussed chest cancer ad nauseam, but the Anambra/Kaduna woman made a hospital request, which must be obeyed on compassionate grounds. Her grief being what she was told in the US, that if her chest lumps were discovered earlier, she wouldn’t have lost any part of her chest.
Yes, let me repeat, chest cancer accounts for 20% of all cancer in women. At Gregory University Uturu, Abia State, which is gradually turning into an institution of high repute, an enlightenment class has just been introduced for every female. At the confines of your room or hostel, at least once every 6 months, examine and palpate your br**sts, and if you notice any lump, please consult your Doctor. We do not want to lose any female through chest cancer. Please let us err on the side of caution.
What are the essential summary for chest cancer?
Risk Factors :
• 1) Women – most women with chest cancer do not have identifiable risk factors.
• 2) Age – Over 60% of chest cancer occurs in women above 50.
• 3) Previous chest cancer – Highest risk are women who have had in-situ, invasive or lump which was removed.
• 4) Delayed child bearing – women who start their reproductive life late, say from 35 years above are at risk of chest cancer.
• 5) Family history – If a first-degree-relative like mother, sister or daughter had cancer, it increases the risk of their siblings developing chest cancer two to three folds.
• 6) chest cancer gene – Recently two separate genes for chest cancer have been identified by Scientists – BRACA1 & BRACA2. If a woman has one of these genes her chances of developing chest cancer is very high.
• 7) Previous non-cancerous chest disease – Having had non-cancerous chest disease seems to increase risk of chest cancer, only in women who have an increased number of milk-ducts.
• 8) First menstruation before age 12 – Menopause after age 55. First pregnancy after age 30 or no pregnancies – all these 3 predispose to increased risk of chest cancer.
• 9) Oral contraceptives – Prolonged use of oral contraceptives or oestrogen replacement therapy increases the risk of chest cancer.
• 10) Obesity after menopause – seem to increase the risk of chest cancer. But some studies suggest that obese women who are still menstruating actually are less likely to develop chest cancer.
Symptoms that may indicate chest cancer
These symptoms don’t necessarily mean that a woman has chest cancer, however if a woman has them, she should see her doctor.
a) Swelling that doesn’t go away.
b) Puckering or dimpling.
c) Scaly skin around the bosom.
d) Changes in the shape of the chest.
e) Changes in the bosom, such as turning inwards.
f) Discharge from the bosom, especially if bloody.
How do we diagnose chest cancer?
1) When a lump that could be cancerous is found, a biopsy is performed – by removing some cells from the lump through a needle attached to a syringe – aspiration biopsy.
2) Or by removing a small piece of the tissue – incisional biopsy.
3) Or by removing the entire lump – excisional biopsy.
Most women don’t need to be hospitalised, and usually only local anaesthetics are needed.
4) Mammography, Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) are other diagnostic procedures.
Prevention of chest cancer.
Women may reduce the risk of chest cancer by:
1) Maintaining a healthy weight.
2) Drinking less alcohol.
3) Being physically active.
4) chest feeding their children.
God who created br**sts for suckling our children, did not permit that, it should also be a source of agony for our female folks. Be medically guided.
Please follow me on twitter ; @ _ DRSUN.
Please follow me on twitter: @ _ DRSUN
Source: Dailysun
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