The breast of a woman is not just a mass of fat cells. Throughout the history of the human race, women’s breasts have played a vital part in the growth and evolution of the race. From providing energy in the form of food at the infant stage to having a major impact on the immune system later in life, a woman and her breast that lactates have a crucial part to play.
A woman’s breast undergoes various changes through every phase of her life. The changes can also be a result of breast cancer in women. There can be several breast cancer causes, including hereditary, age, exposure to radiation, and lifestyle factors.
The latest breast cancer treatments are available, ranging from hormonal therapy and radiation therapy to surgery.
Here are a few facts to bring awareness of the condition:
1 in 8 women
In the United States, breast cancer is most likely to be diagnosed in one in eight women. The number adds up to nearly 13% of the population.
Breast cancer in cats and dogs
Animals can also develop breast cancer. The malignant mammary tumor (cancerous) is more common in cats than in dogs and other mammals like cows, goats, and mares.
Breast cancer in men
Breast cancer can also occur in men. The chances of occurrence are rare, but nearly 1 in 833 men can develop breast cancer. The reduced tissue density in men’s breasts accounts for the lower likelihood of breast cancer in males.
Left breast than the right
There are more chances of the left breast developing cancer than the right one. The possibility is 5 to 10 percent for the left breast to carry malignant tumors. However, there are no reasons to substantiate this fact.
Decline in death
The rate of fatality has reduced with advancements in treatments and scientific developments. Medical procedures like mastectomy (removal of entire breast tissues from the body) prevent the cancerous cells from spreading across the body, thus reducing the chance of death. There are nearly 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
Breastfeeding reduces the probability
Breastfeeding reduces the chance of developing cancer. The resistance might be due to the changes in the breast cells during lactation.
Without family history
Without a family history of the disease, there is a possibility of developing breast cancer in women. A 15% possibility of spreading cancer from one generation to the next exists. However, there is an about 85% likelihood that the subsequent generation will be diagnosed with cancer, even if the ancestors did not have the disease.
Highest death rate
The number of deaths from breast cancer is higher than any cancer other than lung cancer. Though the number of survivors is increasing, the number of cases of breast cancer is higher, leading to an increased death rate.
Tobacco contributes to breast cancer
The carcinogens present in tobacco can pave the way for a woman to develop breast cancer. Women who smoke/consume tobacco in any form are most likely to be diagnosed with cancer than women who do not smoke.
The death rate in 2022
The death rate in the U.S for the year 2022 is estimated to be 43,250 out of the 287,500 new invasive breast cancer cases.
Women are well-built, indeed, with abilities to battle anything in their way, from monthly menstruation to childbirth. Let us embrace and educate women and bring awareness about their bodies and the care they need to take.
This blog hopes to bring awareness to breast cancer in women. Please visit a doctor immediately if you find any abnormalities with your breast. Perform breast self-examination at required intervals to track anything that is untypical. Know your normals to figure out the abnormalities.
