October is breast cancer awareness month. It is extremely important that women over 35 get a yearly mammogram. According to the American Cancer Society approximately 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer at some point in their life. Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths among women. Breast cancer starts in the breast, usually in the inner lining of the milk ducts lobules. The first sign or symptom of breast cancer is usually a lump felt while touching the breast. This lump feels much different than the surrounding tissue. There are different types of breast cancer with different stages, aggressiveness, and genetic makeup. Breast cancer is about 100 times more frequent among women than men but survival rates are equal.

CAUSES OF BREAST CANCER

Dr. L. Day was diagnosed with breast cancer and through her research and personal treatment she discovered the major causes and preventions. According to Dr. L. Day, MD most cancers, including breast cancer, are caused by malnutrition, dehydration, lack of exercise, stress, the breast cancer gene, and poor diets. Risk factors play an important role in increasing the chances of getting breast cancer. Some risk factors can be controlled, while others cannot. According to the Harvard School of Medicine, "Sixty-five percent of all cancers could be prevented if women would change their life-style and diets.

RISK FACTORS MAY INCLUDE:

Medical professionals do not really know the cause of about 95% of the breast cancer cases. The other 5% is attributed to the breast cancer gene, which is hereditary. Other risk factors may include:

-Sex, age, hormones,

-Race (Breast cancer is diagnosed more often in Caucasian women than in Black, Latina, or Asian women.)

-Not carrying a child to full term-Obesity, malnutrition, dehydration,

-Having breast cancer genes in the family gene pool.

-Having a family history of breast cancer, which may include mother, aunts, or sisters.

-Going through puberty early, before age 12.

-Taking hormone pills to replace estrogen and progesterone during post-menopausal period.

-A diet of processed foods. such as, fast foods, white sugar, white flower, artificial sweeteners and high in fat.

-Living a high stressed life-style.

-Lack of exercise or a sedentary life-style.

-Drinking too much alcohol.

PREVENTION

Many breast cancer survivors, like Dr. L. Day, believe that the chances of getting breast cancer can be reduced by living a healthy life-style. When breast cancer is detected early, the chances of survival are high, as high as 98%. This is why women are encouraged to complete monthly breast exams and a yearly mammogram. When the risk factors are avoided the chances of getting breast cancer also decreases. However, keep in mind that risk factors like, race, sex, and genetics cannot be avoided.

TREATMENT

Once breast cancer has been discovered, it can be a very fearful, frustrating, and confusing experience. Treatment can include surgery, drugs, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation. The most common treatment is surgery. Radiation is used to destroy cells that remain in the tissue after surgery. Radiation can reduce the chances of recurrence by 50% to 66%. Chemotherapy is given, over a long period of time and at different intervals, to slowly kill the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is a combination of medication that is specific to the patient and the type of breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. The key to survival is early detection. White women are more likely to get breast cancer than any other racial or ethnic group. However, Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer. This is true for many reasons such as, lack of health care, late detection, poor diets, unhealthy life-styles, high levels of stress, and excessive alcohol consumption. Studies show that women who drink two or more alcoholic beverages a day are 20% more likely to develop breast cancer. Also, men can get breast cancer too.