Are you aware of breast cancer? Let's talk about it!

When we hear the name breast cancer, many of us get a little scared, right? That's normal. Because, this is one of the most common types of cancer among women in the world as well as in our country. But more important than being scared is to be properly informed about it and take the necessary steps. Today, let's talk about what breast cancer is, what are the factors that affect its development, and what we can do to protect ourselves from it.

Why is the risk of breast cancer increased?

"Why is this happening to me?" you may be wondering. There is really no single cause of breast cancer. There are many factors that can contribute to it. Let's look at the main risk factors.

Why do some people delay seeking treatment?

This is a very important issue. Sometimes, even though there are symptoms, there are cases where it is too late to seek treatment.

There may be several main reasons for this:

• Lack of awareness: Lack of knowledge about the symptoms of breast cancer, how to perform self-examination, or the importance of tests like mammograms leads to delayed diagnosis of the disease.
• Fear and misconceptions: Some people are afraid of being diagnosed with "cancer." They also have unnecessary fears about treatments like chemotherapy and surgery. Misconceptions like "these medications will do more harm than good" delay seeing a doctor.
• Practical issues: For those living in remote villages, difficulties in traveling to hospitals with specialist medical treatment (e.g. Maharagama Apeksha Hospital), financial problems, and lack of family support may also affect them.

What are the diagnosis and treatment methods?

Okay, now let's see how exactly this disease is diagnosed and treated.

Diagnosis

The most important thing is to detect the disease at an early stage. There are several main methods for this.

1. Breast Self-Exam : Something you can do at home. Check your breasts yourself at least once a month. If you feel any lumps or changes, see a doctor immediately.

2. Mammogram: This is a special X-ray test. It can detect even the smallest lumps before symptoms appear. Doctors usually recommend this test after the age of 40-50.

3. Biopsy: If you suspect a lump, the only way to be 100% sure whether it is cancerous or not is to have a biopsy . This means taking a very small piece of tissue from the lump and examining it under a microscope.

Treatments

Your doctor will determine the most suitable treatment for you based on many factors, such as the type of cancer and the extent of its spread.

• Surgery: The main treatment is to remove the cancerous lump. Sometimes only the lump is removed (lumpectomy) . Other times, the entire breast has to be removed (mastectomy) .
• Chemotherapy: This is a powerful drug treatment that destroys cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy : High-energy rays are used to destroy any cancer cells that may remain after surgery.
• Hormone Therapy: There are some types of breast cancer that are helped to grow by hormones. These are called hormone receptor-positive cancers. If your cancer is one of these types, you will be given drugs that block the action of those hormones.

What can you do?

There are many things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer and detect the disease early. These are the things that are in your hands.

Change your lifestyle.

Instead of worrying about things that are beyond your control (like age, genes), focus on the things you can change.

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Engage in simple exercise like walking at least 3 days a week.
• Stop alcohol use completely, or limit it greatly.
• If you have a child, breastfeed for as long as possible.

Take care of your breasts.

No one knows your body better than you do. So always be aware of it. If you notice any of the following symptoms, don't hesitate to see a doctor. Don't delay.

Talk to your doctor about the age at which you should start having mammograms , based on your risk factors. He or she will give you the best guidance.