Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I want to share some information about breast cancer to help give women and men a better understanding of it's prevention in hopes to prevent many from attaining the disease. Notice how I included men? Although it is seldomly discussed, men are at risk for breast cancer even though it is more commonly diagnosed in women. The cause of breast cancer is not quite known for sure, but many researchers believe that like many other forms of cancer, it is a result of an intherited gene mutation. Lorie Parch, author of "What Causes Breast Cancer?", states scientists know for a fact that "mutations to the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 (Breast Cancer 1 and 2) genes, which normally help prevent cancer by regulating cell growth, are linked to an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer." A person is at a greater risk for breast cancer if, for example, they have a family history of the disease or the gene mutation. Some common warning signs of the disease include "a change in the look or feel of the breast," pain or discomfort in the breast area, as well as, "a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge." The best way to test for breast cancer, however, is to see your nearest physician and ask for a mammography, which is a process of x-rays that examine the breast for lumps or masses. Medicine Plus suggests that it is necessary to get a mammogram if you are a woman older than 40 or if you have a history of the disease, no matter what age you are.