Breast Cancer

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BREAST CANCER

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🛑 Breast cancer is one of most common cancers found in women

🛑 In 2018 more than 670, 000 women worldwide died as a result of breast cancer.

🛑 There are a couple of things that could put you at risk of breast cancer.

🛑 Having these risk factors does not necessarily mean you will get breast cancer.

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What are some of the risks factors of breast cancer

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🛑️ Being female

The fact that you're female puts you at risk of breast cancer. Men can also get breast cancer . This is however very uncommon

🛑 Contraceptive use

If you have ever used contraceptives or use contraceptives after menopause, it puts you at a slight risk.

🛑 If you have had breast cancer before or had breast cancer in one breast, you are at risk of having it again.

🛑 Family history:

If your mother ,sister, niece, aunt, or grandmother had breast cancer you're at risk of having it as well.

🛑 Carrying any breast cancer Genes

🛑 Not ever having any children

🛑 Early menarche ( first menses)

🛑 Late menopause ( usually after 55 years)

🛑 Radiation to your chest wall.

🛑 Dense breast

🛑 Having children late in life ( usually after 28)

🛑 Being obese

🛑 Smoking

🛑 Drinking alcohol

🛑 Certain breast lesions

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Symptoms to look out for

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🛑 Thickened area of your breast that doesn't go away

🛑 A dimple on your breast that doesn't go away.

🛑 A scab-like red or white crusted surface on the nipple that can be sore and doesn’t go away.

🛑 Breast infection that doesn't go away despite antibiotic therapy. Breast feel swollen, reddened and painful. If antibiotics don't improve situation after one week, should see a doctor to take a look at it.

🛑 Open sore on the breast that doesn't go away. It can come with some discharge or bad smell. This is usually a sign that the cancer has been present for a while

🛑 A breast lump. This doesn't always mean you have cancer. You however have to make sure you get it looked at as nobody can tell what it is without examination.

🛑 Sunken or retracted nipple ( If your nipple wasn't like this before)

🛑The skin of the breast looks like the peel of an orange. It usually is swollen and skin colour change can change.

🛑 New veins formed on breasts -

Newly appearing blood vessels or veins are usually not a sign of cancer. This is a rare symptom more often it is connected to weight gain, breastfeeding or Mondor's disease. However, if veins become more pronounced on the skin outside of these changes, on the breast or near the collarbone (and sometimes accompanied with a swollen arm) this could be a sign of a breast cancer tumor near the surface of the skin drawing more blood to itself and the vein swelling in size to accommodate additional blood flow.

🛑 If one breast changes size, flattens, swells, or droops unexpectedly and doesn't seem to be connected to your menstruation cycle.

❗ Don't take symptoms for granted. Make sure you go to a doctor to take a look at you if you feel not everything is ok.

❗The longer you take, the more you reduce your chances of survival.

❗ Lots of deaths by breast cancer are preventable.

❗ Get screened, stay healthy and remember early detection saves lives.