Ignorance always causes danger. As mostly females ignore a lump on their breast, due to ethical background and privacy. Actually they don’t know what will b the end result of that pear shaped lump. According to USA report every 1 female out of 8 have breast cancer in their   life span. In 2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 57,650 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. Breast cancer can occur in male, According to USA report it can affect 1 in 1000 male in lifespan. In 2011 expected cases were diagnosed is about 2,140. Statics of Pakistan regarding breast cancer is that almost 90000 cases are diagnosed per year and 40000 died. This shows the mortality rate due to breast cancer in Pakistan is more than USA where the rate of breast cancer is high. The commonest reason behind this mortality rate is our ignorance. This ignorance is due to lack of awareness   and lack of education in our society.

The main theme of this article is to give awareness to all female about breast cancer and also tell them how to examine their breast at home, because when female examine regularly then they notice any change. Sometimes that lump is small in size and painless and easily ignored by female.

How to examine breast? While examination of breast female cannot make any decision about breast cancer they aim is that female just notice any change then she concern with their health provider following are steps:

  • Place your right hand behind your head. With the middle fingers of your left hand, gently yet firmly press down using small motions to examine the entire right breast.
  • Then, while sitting or standing, examine your armpit, because breast tissue extends to that area.
  • Gently squeeze the nipple, checking for discharge.
  • Repeat the process on the left breast.
  • Use one of the patterns shown in the diagram to make sure that you are covering all of the breast tissue.

Along with these steps female must notice the skin changes, which would b possible when she is standing in front of mirror any change in the skin must b informed to the health provider.

Breast cancer is leading cause of death in female so it is better to know the cause of it but till now cause is not known, but there are many risk factor, here i just discuss few of them, age, hereditary (it is seen that if close blood relative have breast cancer then chances are double), menstrual life (female with early menarche & late menopause have high risk ), female having child  after 30 having high risk, female avoid to breast feed have high risk(this is the common issue female don’t want to breast feed but they don’t know that breast feeding decreases their no of menstrual period and this decreases the chances of breast cancer , radiation ,hormone replacement therapy etc.

So if we do some preventive measures that decrease the mortality rate of breast cancer from our society.

About Authors:

Adnan Ali Khahro: Final year  MBBS student of Isra University, Hyderabad. He can be reached at dr.adnankhahro@gmail.com & Facebook.

Shireen Rahat Khanzada: 3rd year student of Isra University, Hyderabad. She is pursuing degree of “Doctor Of Physiotherapy”. She can be reached at dr.shireenkz@gmail.com

Reference:

1.http://www.bariamma.com/index.php/safety-tips/breast-cancer-is-killing-40000-women-in-pakistan-every-year/

2. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics.jsp

3. http://queentessenceph.blogspot.com/2012/01/red-alarms-and-alerts-after-self.html