Oral cancer is a type of cancer that can affect any part of the mouth, including the lips, tongue, gums, and cheeks. Like all cancers, oral cancer is caused by a variety of factors, including both genetic and environmental factors. While not all risk factors for oral cancer can be controlled, there are several steps that individuals can take to reduce their risk of developing this disease. Continue reading “What are Oral Cancers”
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the Nigeria
In 2015, just under 5,000 women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Most women who get it (8 out of 10) are over 50, but younger women, and in rare cases, men, can also get breast cancer.
If it’s treated early enough, breast cancer can be prevented from spreading to other parts of the body.
The breasts are made up of fat, connective tissue and thousands of tiny glands called lobules, which produce milk. When a woman has a baby, the milk is delivered to the nipple through tiny tubes called ducts, which allow her to breastfeed.
The body is made up of billions of tiny cells, which usually grow and multiply in an orderly way. New cells are only produced when and where they’re needed. In cancer, this orderly process goes wrong and cells begin to grow and multiply uncontrollably.
Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue.
Most breast lumps aren’t cancerous, but it’s always best to have them checked by your doctor. You should also see your GP if you notice any of the following:
a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood)
a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
dimpling on the skin of your breasts
a rash on or around your nipple
a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Breast pain isn’t usually a symptom of breast cancer.
After examining your breasts, your GP may refer you to a specialist breast cancer clinic for further tests. This might include a mammography (breast screening) or a biopsy.
There are several different types of breast cancer, which can develop in different parts of the breast. Breast cancer is often divided into non-invasive and invasive types.
Non-invasive breast cancer
Non-invasive breast cancer is also known as cancer or carcinoma in situ. This cancer is found in the ducts of the breast and hasn’t developed the ability to spread outside the breast.
This form of cancer rarely shows as a lump in the breast that can be felt, and is usually found on a mammogram. The most common type of non-invasive cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Invasive breast cancer
Invasive cancer has the ability to spread outside the breast, although this doesn’t necessarily mean it has spread.
The most common form of breast cancer is invasive ductal breast cancer, which develops in the cells that line the breast ducts. Invasive ductal breast cancer accounts for about 80% of all breast cancer cases and is sometimes called “no special type”.
Other types of breast cancer
Other less common types of breast cancer include invasive lobular breast cancer, which develops in the cells that line the milk-producing lobules, inflammatory breast cancer and Paget’s disease of the breast.
It’s possible for breast cancer to spread to other parts of the body, usually through the lymph nodes (small glands that filter bacteria from the body) or the bloodstream. If this happens, it’s known as “secondary” or “metastatic” breast cancer.
About one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There’s a good chance of recovery if it’s detected in its early stages. For this reason, it’s vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always get any changes examined by their GP.
Mammographic screening (where X-ray images of the breast are taken) is the best available method of detecting an early breast lesion. However, you should be aware that a mammogram might fail to detect some breast cancers. It might also increase your chances of having extra tests and interventions, including surgery.
Women with a higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer may be offered screening and genetic testing for the condition.
As the risk of breast cancer increases with age, all women who are 50-70 years old are invited for breast cancer screening every three years.
Women over 70 are also entitled to screening and can arrange an appointment through their GP or local screening unit.
The NHS is in the process of extending the programme as a trial, offering screening to some women aged 47-73.
If cancer is detected at an early stage, it can be treated before it spreads to nearby parts of the body.
Breast cancer is treated using a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgery is usually the first type of treatment you’ll have, followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy or, in some cases, hormone or biological treatments.
The type of surgery and the treatment you have afterwards will depend on the type of breast cancer you have. Your doctor will discuss the best treatment plan with you.
In a small proportion of women, breast cancer is discovered after it’s spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). Secondary cancer, also called advanced or metastatic cancer, isn’t curable, so the aim of treatment is to achieve remission (symptom relief).
As the causes of breast cancer aren’t fully understood, it’s not possible to know if it can be prevented altogether.
If you’re at increased risk of developing the condition, some treatments are available to reduce the risk.
Studies have looked at the link between breast cancer and diet and, although there are no definite conclusions, there are benefits for women who maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly and who have a low intake of saturated fat and alcohol.
It’s been suggested that regular exercise can reduce your risk of breast cancer by as much as a third. If you’ve been through the menopause, it’s particularly important that you’re not overweight or obese. This is because being overweight or obese causes more oestrogen to be produced, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Being diagnosed with breast cancer can affect daily life in many ways, depending on what stage it’s at and what treatment you’re having.
How women cope with their diagnosis and treatment varies from person to person. You can be reassured that there are several forms of support available, if you need it. For example:
your family and friends can be a powerful support system
you can communicate with other people in the same situation
find out as much as possible about your condition
don’t try to do too much or overexert yourself
make time for yourself
Many of us have heard of the great advances that are taking place in the field of medicine, and one such area where a large amount of progress has been seen is in stem cell research.
Stem cell research is currently being used to find new cures for conditions such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, to name but a few. Their role in the discovery of new drugs is invaluable. Continue reading “Understanding The Basics Of Stem Cells”
It becomes easier for us to deal with diseases that are easily diagnosed. This is done with the help of identifying the symptoms which makes it fairly simple to plan the treatment option and plan the road ahead. But when it comes to complex conditions, then it can be very tricky. Continue reading “Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer for Betterment of Life”
There was once a time, when cancer was a disease that was considered rare and something that was almost unheard of, for most people. Today, the doctors encounter a growing number of people who are being affected by the same. What is alarming is that there are so many types of cancers these days and that many times detecting them becomes a tough task. Continue reading “The Basics of Skin Cancer, what you need to know!”
The formation of abnormal cells inside the brain often result in a brain tumor. Brain tumors are of two types: benign tumors and malignant/cancerous tumors. This means that all brain tumors are not cancerous but only the malignant type.
Malignant tumors are further divided by primary tumors which form inside the brain and secondary tumors which originate from elsewhere inside the body. The latter type is also termed as brain metastasis tumors. Continue reading “Symptoms and Signs of Leukemia”
The main purpose of sharing my near death experience and personal story is so that others do not have to go through what I went through.
It’s not my style to overtly teach people or tell them how to live their lives, nor do I like advising anyone on what changes they need to make, even if they ask. I prefer to lead by example, and create a safe environment for others to get in touch with their own truth. Continue reading “Lung Cancer Cases Linked to Air Quality! What is The Solution to That?!”
Women with irregular menstrual cycles may have more than double the risk of ovarian cancer compared to women who have regular monthly periods, new research suggests.
The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 22,000 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014, Continue reading “‘I could go months without having a period’ part 3”
Acne, excess facial hair, irregular periods and weight gain, some of the ‘normal’ side-effects of being a teenage girl, could in fact be indicators of an underlying condition.
Between 10-15 per cent of women are now believed to have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition with many long-term implications, including infertility and a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Continue reading “‘I could go months without having a period’ part 1”
There is no real known way to prevent ovarian cancer for sure; however, there are certain things that may help to significantly reduce the risks of being diagnosed with the disease. For example:
1. When a woman has taken the anti-contraceptive pill for more than 10-years, then the chances of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer drops significantly. Continue reading “Can Ovarian Cancer Be Prevented?”
