Health
Breast Cancer
RISKS, SYMPTOMS, AND NEW REVELATIONS ON EARLY DETECTION By Kimberly Blaker
Twelve percent of women today will develdoesn’t mean you’ll go on to develop breast op invasive breast cancer, and more than cancer. Likewise, a lack of risk factors 40,000 will die from it doesn’t mean you won’t develthis year alone, reports op the disease. For this reason, “There can be life BreastCancer.org. That’s all women should be aware after breast cancer. why a refresher course on of the risks and symptoms early detection and stayand what screening does and The prerequisite is ing up-to-date on the latest doesn’t do. early detection.” studies is essential and the Some factors that are un— Ann Jillian reason for October’s Breast changeable and increase risk Cancer Awareness Month. are female gender, aging, genetics, and race and ethnicity RISK FACTORS (white women are at slightly higher risk) according to the ACS. A greater number of There are several risk factors for breast canmenstrual cycles, previous chest radiation, cer, as identified by the American Cancer and exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol Society (ACS). Some of these are unchange(DES) also puts women at a slightly higher able but should be taken into account in derisk. veloping a screening plan. Other risk factors are lifestyle-related. Therefore women, especially those already at higher risk, should consider those factors she can control.
Still, the simple presence of risk factors
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Other risk factors can often be controlled. Pregnancy and childbirth are some of these factors. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), having more than one
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