Exploring Breast Cancer in Women

Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. Breast cancer happens when cells in your breast grow and divide in an uncontrolled way, creating a mass of tissue called a tumor. Signs of breast cancer can include feeling a lump in your breast, experiencing a change in the size of your breast and seeing changes to the skin on your breasts. Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in women. Breast cancer can also occur in men however it is more prevalent in women.

Research funding and breast cancer awareness have helped create advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. In so doing increased breast cancer survival rates and gradually decreased the number of deaths associated with this disease. Early detection, a new treatment approach and a better understanding of the disease also account for the decline.

Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr. Carla Nicholson-Daley shares more on Sunrise. Watch the interview here:

Some signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include a breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue, a change in the size, shape, or appearance of a breast, changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling, a newly inverted nipple, peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple or breast skin and redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange.

Breast cancer occurs when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells and continue to accumulate, forming a lump or mass. Cells may spread (metastasize) through your breast to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your body.

Doctors estimate that about 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are linked to gene mutations passed through generations of a family. The most popular breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2), significantly increase the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or other cancers you may want to get tested for the genes.

Breast cancer risk factors include: being female, age, personal history of breast conditions breast cancer, family history of breast cancer, inherited genes that increase cancer risk, radiation exposure, obesity, early menstrual cycle at a younger age, beginning menopause at an older age, having your first child at an older age, having never been pregnant, postmenopausal hormone therapy and drinking alcohol.

Making changes in your daily life may help reduce your risk of breast cancer. You can try to:

Ask your doctor about breast cancer screening such as clinical breast exams and mammograms, become familiar with your breasts through breast self-exam for breast awareness so you can note the changes if there are any, and drink alcohol in moderation. Exercise can also aid in reducing the chances of getting breast cancer along with limiting postmenopausal hormone therapy, maintaining a healthy weight and choosing a healthy diet.