Health Magazine March/April 2016 | Page 26

Surviving Breast Cancer While speedy diagnosis and better treatment have led to a fall in breast cancer mortality rates, being breast aware is essential to enhance your chances for survival. Recently Thumbay Hospital conducted a Pink Drive which highlighted the courageous stories of real life breast cancer survivors from all walks of life. HEALTH takes a closer look at the disease. BREAST CANCER PREVENTION Did you know that the incidence of breast cancer is increasing world-wide? Dr. Houriya Kazim, Specialist Breast Surgeon explains that interestingly enough, the more developed countries become, the more breast cancer is seen. “In fact, researchers have reported that in the entire Middle East region, breast cancer occurs 10 years younger than we would expect and the disease tends to be much more aggressive,” she says. “We don’t know the reason for this in spite of doing all the right things to decrease our risk – having babies young, breast-feeding, not taking Hormone Replacement Therapy and so on.” However, the good news is that even though more breast cancer cases are being diagnosed, Mar/Apr 2016 24 more women are surviving. Dr. Kazim points out that around five times more women are diagnosed with breast cancer than die from it. Why it is on the rise, she explains, is probably multi-factorial related to changes in lifestyle, food, environmental toxins, genetics and so forth. BREAST SELFEXAMINATION From age 20, women should check their breasts monthly. Checking your breasts for lumps or other changes is called a breast self-exam. Women should do it 5 to10 days after the first day of their period, or those who have passed menopause should do this on the same day each month. Being breast aware means familiarizing yourself with your breasts and the changes they go through during your life. You should know how your breasts look and feel normally so that you can pick up any changes quickly. With a self-exam it is important to feel all around your breasts, including underneath, at the top, around by the collar bone, and under your arms. If you do notice a change in your breasts, try not to worry but visit your GP as soon as you can. Breast cancer can present in many ways, but it is important to remember that many changes can also be caused by benign (non-cancerous) conditions or normal changes within the breast. RED FLAGS TO LOOK OUT FOR • Size – if one breast becomes larger or lower than the other. • Nipples – if a nipple becomes inverted (pulled in) or changes position or shape.