As one of the most common malignant tumors in women, breast cancer is a major threat to women’s health. Not only does it often start insidiously, with the incidence rate rising year by year in recent years, but also the early symptoms are not obvious, which makes it easy for patients to miss the best time for treatment. Once it enters the advanced stage, not only is it difficult to treat, but the cure rate is also drastically reduced, bringing a heavy burden to patients and their families, and even threatening their lives. Therefore, early detection and treatment is the key to improving the survival rate, and it is crucial to understand how to prevent and recognize the early signs of breast cancer.
I. Risk factors for breast cancer
Age: Risk increases with age, especially for women over 50.
Genetics: Family history or mutations in specific genes (e.g., BRCA1 and BRCA2) may increase risk.
Lifestyle: Unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise and excessive alcohol consumption may be risk factors.
Breast tissue density: Women with a high density of breast tissue are also at a relatively high risk of developing breast cancer.
Hormone levels: Abnormal hormone levels, such as high estrogen levels or insufficient progesterone levels, may increase the risk of breast cancer.
Environmental factors: Exposure to radioactive substances or chemicals, such as long-term exposure to estrogenic drugs and radiation, may also increase the risk of breast cancer.
II. How to prevent and recognize early signs of breast cancer
Breast lumps or changes in lumps: the appearance of hard or irregularly shaped lumps in the breasts or changes in the already existing lumps should be alerted.
Nipple discharge: Nipple discharge may be one of the early signs of breast cancer, especially blood or bloody discharge.
Breast skin changes: Abnormalities such as dimpling, wrinkling, redness, swelling, itching or hardening of the skin of the breast need prompt attention.
Nipple abnormalities: Changes in the shape, color or size of the nipple, or nipple inversion may be an early sign of breast cancer.
Breast pain: Long-term persistent or periodic pain in the breast, especially unilateral breast pain, may also be one of the signs of breast cancer.
Breast swelling: Swelling, congestion, enlargement or discomfort in the breast, especially in unilateral breast, should be alerted.
Enlarged lymph nodes: The presence of enlarged lymph nodes in the armpits or under the collarbone may be a sign that breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
If any of the above breast abnormalities are detected, especially if they persist or change significantly, it is recommended to seek prompt medical attention for further examination and diagnosis. Regular breast self-examination and breast screening are also important means for early detection of breast cancer. Women should develop the habit of regular checkups to detect and treat breast cancer in time.
III. Preventive measures against breast cancer
1、Regular breast self-examination: Regular breast self-examination is one of the important means for early detection of breast cancer. After menstruation every month, women can carry out self-examination through the following methods:
Gentle massage: Use fingers to gently massage on the surface of breasts to check whether there are abnormal lumps or hard masses.
Observation of breasts: Pay attention to whether there are deformations, skin changes, nipple overflow and other abnormalities in the breasts.
Nipple squeezing: gently squeeze the nipple and observe whether there is any overflow, especially bloody overflow.
2、Regular breast screening:
Mammography (fluoroscopy or mammography): can detect abnormal density and nodules in breast tissue.
Breast ultrasound: can detect nodules, cysts, etc. in breast tissue.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): For people at high risk or with suspected tumors, MRI exams can provide more detailed imaging information.
3、Dietary modification:
Reduce the intake of high-fat and high-calorie foods and avoid excessive intake of animal fats and processed foods.
Increase the proportion of healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes and fish to maintain a diverse diet.
Control the intake of salt and sugar, and limit the intake of processed foods and sugary drinks.
Maintaining good dietary habits can help reduce the risk of breast cancer.
4、Lifestyle adjustment:
Quit smoking and limit alcohol: Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol and smoking for a long period of time, as the chemicals in alcohol and tobacco have adverse effects on breast tissue.
Moderate exercise: at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, swimming and cycling, can help reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Maintain a happy mood: Reducing stress and maintaining a good mental state can help improve immunity and body resistance.
Regular routine: Getting enough sleep and maintaining a good routine can help maintain good health.
In conclusion, although breast cancer is a serious disease, the risk of developing the disease can be greatly reduced by understanding the risk factors and taking appropriate preventive measures. The most important thing is to remain vigilant and have regular check-ups. Regardless of the presence or absence of these risk factors, every woman should undergo regular breast examinations for early detection and treatment. Finally, we need to realize that breast cancer is not an invincible “enemy”. With the advancement of medical technology and social awareness, we have more “weapons” to fight this disease!