The 411 on breast cancer

“Just think about the many things that might cause the wear and tear that leads to abnormal cell growth—pollutants, hormones, pesticides, smoking, alcohol use, obesity, stress…. Or maybe your cells just made a mistake one day when they were making new genes to pass on to their baby cells. Perhaps there was a misprint in the genetic instruction manual that said switch growth on instead of growth off. This is a test. ”

Marisa Weiss M.D.,
president and founder, breast radiation oncologist, Philadelphia, PA

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What's good lovelies? This time around, we've got the details of how breast cancer develops, just to give you a clearer picture on how it happens, why etc. It may get a little technical with the medical terms but bear with us!

Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. To better understand breast cancer, it helps to understand how any cancer can develop.

Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. The genes are in each cell’s nucleus, which acts as the “control room” of each cell. Normally, the cells in our bodies replace themselves through an orderly process of cell growth: healthy new cells take over as old ones die out. But over time, mutations can “turn on” certain genes and “turn off” others in a cell. That changed cell gains the ability to keep dividing without control or order, producing more cells just like it and forming a tumor.

A tumor can be benign (not dangerous to health) or malignant (has the potential to be dangerous). Benign tumors are not considered cancerous: their cells are close to normal in appearance, they grow slowly, and they do not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous. Left unchecked, malignant cells eventually can spread beyond the original tumor to other parts of the body.

The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands, or the ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Less commonly, breast cancer can begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast.

Breast Anatomy

Over time, cancer cells can invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way into the underarm lymph nodes, small organs that filter out foreign substances in the body. If cancer cells get into the lymph nodes, they then have a pathway into other parts of the body. The breast cancer’s stage refers to how far the cancer cells have spread beyond the original tumor.

Breast cancer is always caused by a genetic abnormality (a “mistake” in the genetic material). However, only 5-10% of cancers are due to an abnormality inherited from your mother or father. About 90% of breast cancers are due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and the “wear and tear” of life in general.

While there are steps every person can take to help the body stay as healthy as possible (such as eating a balanced diet, not smoking, limiting alcohol, and exercising regularly), breast cancer is never anyone's fault. Feeling guilty, or telling yourself that breast cancer happened because of something you or anyone else did, is not productive.

Source: Breastcancer.org (BCO)

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Breast Self-Examination

Hey ladies, it's been awhile! Our bad as we've been crazy busy finalizing details for the big day (which is less than a month away!) Hope everyone's well and not letting the Monday Blues get to ya :)

We've been talking about how early detection is the key and today (courtesy of PRIDE Foundation) we've got info on how to self-examine your breasts and what being 'breast aware' is all about.

What is it?

BSE is a visual and physical examination for any changes in the breasts and underarms which you or a trusted person can perform on you.

When should you do it?

Age 20 – 39

• Do Breast Self-Examination (BSE) once a month, between the 7-10 day from the start of your period
• Do Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) once every 3 years, though some recommend that you do it once a year upon reaching 30 years old.

Age 40 and above

• Do monthly BSE. For women who have reached menopause, do it on a specific date of the month.
• Do CBE and mammogram once a year

How to?

Being breast aware means knowing how your breasts usually look and feel. Look for changes in the:

Breast size and shape, pain and lump

• An increase in size of one breast.
• One breast has suddenly shifted position/height.
• Unusual thickening of the breast skin.
• A painless lump in the breast or armpit.
• Unexplained pain in the breast with no lump.

Skin

• Swelling, redness or distortion of the breast skin.
• Puckering or dimpling in the skin of the nipples or breast (skin texture similar to an orange peel)
• A sore or ulcer on the breast skin that does not heal.

Nipple

• Sticky or bloody nipple discharge.
• Scaling, crusting or erosion of the nipple.
• Inversion or retraction of the nipple or area surrounding the nipple (areola)

Performing regular BSE is one way to increase your familiarity with your breasts. The key to BSE is to spot changes in your breasts. Look for changes that persist after your menstrual cycle or any changes that concern you.

Standing Up

Stand undressed in front of a mirror. Look at your breasts and check each breast for anything unusual, such as puckering, dimpling, scales or changes in size, shape or symmetry. Remember to look beneath each breast, using your hands to lift the breasts if necessary.

Look

Look for breast changes in three positions:

1. Visually inspect your breasts, arms at the side, while facing forward and while turning from side to side.
2. Then, clasp your hands behind your head and press them forward. You should feel your chest muscles tightening, allowing you to see the contours of your breasts. Turn from side to side so you can see the outer surfaces.
3. Next, inspect your breasts while pressing your hands firmly on your hips and bending forward slightly, pulling your shoulders and elbows forward as well.

Feel
Standing erect again, raise one arm, and use the pads of the three middle fingers of the opposite hand to feel the breast. You can use lotion or powder to help your fingers glide easily over the skin, or you can do the raised-arm part of the exam in the shower with soapy skin.

Lying Down

Lie down with a pillow under your left shoulder, and put your left hand behind your head.

Feel
Feel your left breast with the pads of the three middle fingers of your right hand. Start at the outer edge and work inward toward the nipple. Then squeeze your nipple gently to look for discharge. Do the same thing to your right breast with a pillow under your right shoulder. Be sure to include the area up to your collarbone and out to your armpit.

Feel the tissue by pressing your fingers in small, overlapping areas about the size of a 10sen coin. To be sure you cover your whole breast, take your time and follow a definite search pattern - wedge, circle or lines, to help you perform BSE more thoroughly.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor

.Fast Facts.

• Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk.
• Seventy-seven percent of women with breast cancer are over 50.
• The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman's mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present.
• Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.
• It is unfortunate in Malaysia that nearly 40% of the new cases identified each year were already in the very advanced stages of the disease.Early detection saves lives!
  
• You are never too young to develop breast cancer! Breast Self-Exam should begin by the age of twenty.

Resources:
National Cancer Institute
Komen Foundation
PRIDE (pink ribbon deeds) Foundation