What is Breast Cancer?

“Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too.”  Via Cancer.org

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we just thought that sharing information about it may help and/or save someones life. More common than not, breast cancer is found in women but men can have it as well. That is why we urge you to self exam yourself and get tested.

According to CDC.ORG

• Each year in the United States, more than 200,000 women get breast cancer and more than 40,000 women die from the disease.
• Men also get breast cancer, but it is not very common. Less than 1% of breast cancers occur in men.
• Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older, but breast cancer also affects younger women. About 11% of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age.

There a many types of breast cancer, so please educate yourself by clicking this link.

Men have much less breast tissue compared to women and are not routinely screened for breast cancer. Breast cancer screening is only recommended for some men at higher risk due to an inherited gene mutation or a strong family history of breast cancer. For these men, screening may increase the chances that breast cancer is found early, when the chances for survival are highest. – via Susan g. Komen

Men who are at high risk you should have exams done every 6 to 12 months at age 35. Women should have mammograms starting out at age 40, unless you are at high risk then you may need to have your screening earlier.

Susan G. Komen’s site has a lot of information involving how to screen, exam, and how to cope with having breast cancer. It gives various options or ways to get help with dealing with cancer and what they coin as “Quality Of Life w/ Breast Cancer“

 

Both images via Blissfully Domestic