How to Spot Breast Cancer in its Early Stages
Men and women can suffer to this tragic disease; over 60,000 people in the UK are diagnosed each year. It’s pivotal for us to understand how to look out for breast cancer and also ways we can minimise our chance of getting the breast disease.
Despite endless events and awareness days, breast cancer still is a bit of a taboo subject. People now understand the risks but yet many women don’t know how to properly inspect themselves. It should be routine for everybody to check for changes on their body and the moment something is noticed, they should see a doctor straightaway.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a complex subject and there’s more than just one type of it too. Abnormal cell growth in the breast can lead to cells dividing and eventually causing cancer. It’s devastating effects harm 1 in 8 women, and although it’s rare for men to be diagnosed, 340 of the 60,000 suffered from breast cancer in what were rare occasions.
· It’s more common in older women
· 13% of women will have the disease in their lifetime
· Despite the misconception, it is rarely down to family history
· More people now survive breast cancer than ever before
· A lump isn’t always cancer but it’s best to get checked
· Cancer affects women regardless of breast size
How to Catch it Early
Everybody should be checking their body and whenever unusual lumps are found, we should report to the GP. But it is vital for women in particular, to check their breasts for lumps. Follow these steps when doing a regular check:
Step 1
Look at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and arms on hips. You’re looking to see if there are any changes. Are they the same shape, size and colour? Check for swelling or distortion. If you find dimpling, bulging or any skin changes then notify your doctor. If there’s any soreness, rash or a change to the nipple area then you should also bring this to your doctor’s attention as soon as possible.
Step 2
Continue to look for the same abnormalities but with your arms raised high. Look for any fluid that might be coming from the nipples, this could be watery, blood or milky.
Step 3
When lying down, assess your right breast with your left hand and your right breast with the left hand. You will be able to keep your fingers flat and check the whole of your breast in a circular motion. Use light pressure and medium pressure for the middle, smoothly deviate vertically and horizontally when checking.
Step 4
The most popular way to do a check, is in the shower. Being wet and slipper can make it easier to find any changes or lumps. Plus it’s the most common place for us to check our bodies. These four checks derived courtesy of BreastCancer.Org.
If you are over 50, the NHS recommended that you attend regular screenings too.
Can it be Prevented?
Breast cancer is treatable but it’s not officially curable, despite the on-going research to alter that. That’s why it’s important to try and find the catastrophic illness as early as possible. There are ways that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle and lower our chances of getting this type of cancer.
· Limit alcohol, drinking can give you greater risk of getting breast cancer
· Smoking will increase your chances of cancer too
· Control your weight and maintain it at a healthy rate
· Ensure that you’re physically active
· Breast feed
· Limit does of hormone therapy
· Avoid exposure to radiation
Donating to those that Suffer
This flooring disease can take somebody by shock and it’s key to spread awareness. By doing so, it then helps people check their bodies more often and even try some of the prevention aspects such as lowering alcohol intake and maintaining a healthy diet.
There are ways that you can make a contribution by visiting one of our monthly poll charities for October, Breast Cancer Care. At My Favourite Voucher Codes we have managed to donate over £50,000 to numerous charities and you can now help us raise for breast cancer. If you want this month’s contribution to go to Breast Cancer Care, then vote in the monthly poll, to the right of this page. We have some donations as big as £3000, if you want to raise the total then start using our promotional codes. It costs you nothing ad you will actually be able to save yourself money by literally inputting the Sports Direct promo codes, New Look discount codes and Miss Selfridge discount codes.
By Daniel Treasure, 4th October.