Health Handbook - In the spotlight this month is Breast Cancer

Cancer is a scary word but this article is to raise awareness of the disease and to give you the facts and figures.

 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK with about 55,000 people diagnosed with the disease every year. While breast cancer is increasing, the good news is that survival rates are improving. This is down to more targeted treatments, earlier detection and increased awareness. See, sharing the colour of your bra on Facebook is actually a good thing!

 

Causes and Risk Factors

 

Certain risk factors can change the likelihood of you developing breast cancer.

 

Age

 

The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. Breast cancer is most common in women over 50 who have been through the menopause. All women between the ages of 50 and 70 years can be screened as part of the NHS Breast Screening Programme. Women over 70 can arrange this through their GP’s.

 

Family History

 

If you have a close relative who has breast cancer you may be at a higher risk of developing the disease. If you are worried about your family history your GP will be happy to discuss this with you.

 

Exposure to Oestrogen

 

Your risk may increase slightly with the amount of oestrogen you are exposed to. For example if you started your period at a young age and entered menopause at a late age you will have been exposed to more oestrogen. Not having children, or having them later in life will also increase your risk.

 

Being Overweight or Obese

 

Being overweight or obese is also linked to the amount to oestrogen that you are exposed to. Being overweight or obese after the menopause causes more oestrogen to be produced.

 

Prevention

 

Ok, so what can you do to prevent breast cancer?

 

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can help to prevent breast cancer and a whole lot of other conditions including heart disease and diabetes. Studies show that those who do regular exercise and who have a diet low in saturated fat and alcohol are at lower risk of developing the disease. Exercise and diet will prevent you from becoming overweight and obese and therefore lowering your exposure to oestrogen.

 

Treatment

 

Those with cancer are looked after by a multidisciplinary team. This could include a surgeon, an oncologist, a physiotherapist, a dietitian and an occupational therapist. The main and best treatments for cancer are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy. This will all get discussed with your doctor and treatment will depend on how the cancer was diagnosed and what stage it is at.

 

Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can really make all the difference as well as being aware of the signs. Make sure that you check your breasts on a regular basis and see your GP immediately if you notice anything abnormal. Whatever you do, don’t panic, 90% of lumps aren’t cancerous but it is always better to be safe and know the facts.