October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Did You Know?
According to Breastcancer.org, all women are at risk for breast cancer—research estimates that 1 in 8 or about 12 percent of women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at some time in their lives. Read on to learn about causes and risk factors, and how to identify and prevent breast cancer.

The most common indication of breast cancer is discovering a lump in the breast or underarm area. Other signs include swelling, skin irritation/dimpling, nipple pain/abnormalities, redness or scaly skin.

To detect breast cancer, physicians may use the following tests:

• Mammogram – a breast X-ray
• Biopsy – the removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope
• Estrogen and progesterone receptor tests – to determine the levels of each hormone
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – a procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of inside the body

The chance of recovery and the treatment options depend on many factors including the stage of cancer, how fast the tumor is growing, hormone receptor levels, and a woman’s age. The four standard types of treatment used for breast cancer are:
1. Surgery, ranging from a small lump of tissue being removed to an entire breast (mastectomy)
2. Radiation therapy
3. Chemotherapy
4. Hormone therapy

Healthy Hints
Medical experts attribute the development of breast cancer to a combination of both unknown and known factors. An extensive list of these factors can be found at: www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors.