Effects of Breast Cancer and Women's Health
By: kevin moshayedi
When a woman is affected with breast cancer, it affects their physical and mental health disproportionately. Breast cancer, can affect a woman's self-image and self-confidence. When she comes to know that she is a victim of breast cancer, she undergoes emotional stress, besides the physical and mental discomforts. Some women undergoes emotional burden when disclosing their diagnosis to loved ones.
All the treatment for breast cancer including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and vaccine therapy, has their own side effects. But women with breast cancer experience more side effects from chemotherapy. According to reports, some breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy experience congestive heart failure after some months. But the rate of cardiac toxicity is lower with some recently found chemotherapy agents. Women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer may experience side effects such as infections, low blood counts, dehydration, nausea, fever, etc. Some may even require hospitalization or emergency department care.
The emotional aspects of this disease are unavoidable. One way to minimize the psychosocial aspect of women undergoing surgery for breast cancer is breast reconstruction. This also provides the benefits of good body image and self-confidence to those patients.
Women with breast cancer should learn how to cope with the disease and the effects of the treatment. Women affected with this breast cancer must be allowed to talk to other women who have beaten breast cancer. They must be introduced to the doctors and experts who have saved many such women. Positive thinking is very important for the long-term survival of cancer patients. Robin Hershkowitz, program director for women's cancers at CancerCare, a national nonprofit support-service group in New York, says "Hope is helpful, even if it doesn't add a second to your life, because it adds to the quality of your life." Recovery of breast cancer depends on the type of treatment, emotional status of the patient, and other related factors. Now-a-days, the medical advances in testing, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer has relieved many women. The regular breast screening, understanding the prevention options and treatment options are very important for every woman.
Knowledge of breast cancer risk factors makes women undergo mammography for screening, leading to detection of cancers in earlier stages and a resultant improvement in survival rates. The awareness about prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer makes women more active in their health and in their health decisions. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and a good sleep are also essential for breast cancer patients.
Article Source: http://www.gestbiz.com/articles
6 comments:
Breast cancer is the most commaon cancer among women,its can effect mental n physical health
Effects of the cancer is actually greater than what some people think. It can be divided into 3 main effects:
a. Physical Effects
b. Sexual and psychological effects
c. Social effects
All these effects will burden not only patients but family members, community or even a country because the cost of cancer treatment is very expensive.
oh i see..what is physical effect actually?can you explain mun
Because of this cancer is very dangerous..i think women must have to know how we can do it ourself check up.
How to do BSE?
There are two methods.
METHOD 1
Look for changes by standing in front of a mirror.
Pay attention to the size, shape and symmetry of your breasts and the level of both nipples.
Some of these factors include:
Step 1
View your breasts in front of a mirror.
Step 2
Raise both arms above your head. Examine your breasts from different angles.
Step 3
With your arms at your side, turn from side to side.
Step 4
Tighten your chest by placing your hands on your hips and pressing down, applying pressure inwards.
METHOD 2
Feel for changes while lying down.
Getting into position
Begin with your right breast. First, lie on your left with your knees bent. Place a pillow or folded bath towel underneath your right shoulder to raise the side you are going to examine. Then, place your right hand under your head. Use your left hand to examine your right breast. Hold your fingers flat to feel for any lumps or thickening.
Examine your breast using both the Vertical Strip Method and the Circular Method.
Vertical Strip Method
Examine the whole breast area in a vertical strip pattern, from the collarbone at the top to the bra-line at the bottom, and from midway between your breasts to an imaginary line down from the middle of your armpit. Using your left hand, begin the first strip at your armpit. Make a circle of light and then firm pressure at this spot to feel for any lumps or thickening.
Move your hand gradually towards the bra-line, using circles of light and firm pressure at each spot. At the bottom of the bra-line, move across about two centimetres to the left and start working upwards to your collarbone, making circles all the way. Work up and down in strips, and cover the full area indicated.
Circular Method
Starting at the top of your breast, make a large circle. Move all around the breast, looking for any unusual lumps or thickening. Do this twice, once with light pressure and again with firm pressure. Do not forget to examine below the areola (dark area).
Checking for Nipple Discharge
With both hands, apply firm pressure on the breast to see if there is any unusual discharge from the nipple.
Checking your Armpit
Bring your right arm down by your side and feel your armpit firmly and carefully for any lumps.
Left Breast Examination
Repeat Steps 1 to 5 for your left breast, using your right hand.
Diagnosis
This may involve a number of different investigations. Depending on the patient's age and whether breast abnormality was picked by screening mammography or due to other symptoms, investigations may include mammography, ultrasound of the breast, and needle aspiration or biopsy of the abnormal area.
Are all lumps in breasts cancerous?
Nine out of 10 lumps found in breasts are not cancerous. Still, any lump you feel – even the smallest ones – must be treated with suspicion. A doctor must be consulted at the earliest opportunity.
www.makna.org.my/breastcancer1.asp
BSE mean is BREAST SELF EXAMINATION
i want to share something here..
Can breast cancer be prevented?
You cannot control some things that put you at risk for breast cancer, such as your sex and age. But you can change others. To stay as healthy as you can:
* Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
* Make exercise a routine part of your life.
* Stay at a healthy weight. Getting regular exercise and watching what you eat can help.
* If you drink alcohol, limit the amount. After menopause, even having one drink a day or less may increase the risk for breast cancer.
Still, there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, so it is very important to have regular exams and mammograms. Discuss your risk factors with your doctor to find out how often you should have a mammogram.
www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2x.asp?sitearea=LRN&dt=5
so..from this article..i'm sure that all women can take this disease as a very important to all of us.
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