Breast Cancer is a very common disease here in Canada; to be specific the most common type of cancer amongst women. This year, approximately 65 Canadian women will be diagnosed with this tragic disease everyday, while 14 of them will die on average. Unfortunately, these numbers may continue to increase if an effective treatment is not discovered, while breast cancer is one of the hardest types of cancer to diagnose. By using self-examination, women can search for abnormal findings within the breasts, as well as discover symptoms that may link to breast cancer.
Symptoms include:
- Abnormal lumps around the breasts or under the arms (The Lymph Nodes)
- Dimpling of the nipples
- Rashes and redness/irritation of skin
- Bloody or Discolored Discharge
There are two forms of tumors that may be diagnosed during annual screening including malignant and benign tumors, (cancerous and non-cancerous tumors). These tumors are often confused for one another leading to several misconceptions when examining the test results. If they are discovered at an early stage of development, there is a chance for tumor removal or possible mastectomy, the full removal of the breasts.
The Stages of Cancerous Tumors:
Stage 0: Non-Invasive; Hasn't spread past the ducts or the lobules
Stage 1: The tumor is two centimeters or less in diameter
Stage 2: The tumor is larger than two centimeters, but smaller than five centimeters
Stage 3A & 3B: The tumor is larger than 5 centimeters, and is beginning to spread
Stage 4: Cancer is travelling through the bloodstream and spreading amongst organs
Breast Cancer - the silent killer