Any woman is frightened to find a seal in the mammary gland: suddenly it's cancer? In fact, most likely - in eight cases out of ten - it is a benign tumor. However, do not underestimate such oncological diseases - breast cancer takes millions of women's lives every year.
Afraid of Atossa
Herodotus has a legend about the princess of Athos: she felt a small pea in her chest, she was very frightened and did not go to the doctor. And it came only when the tumor reached a very large size. Whether the princess had cancer - is unknown. But in any case, noticing the changes in the mammary gland, you need to consult with a doctor as soon as possible. If this is a benign change, you will calm down. If, unfortunately, not, then in the early stages of breast cancer is cured in nine cases out of ten.
Nestashnye tumors
Mastopathy is the most common disease. A woman experiences pain in the mammary gland before menstruation or constantly. And the appearance of nodules - small and multiple or single, but clearly pronounced - frightens it. Mastopathy in the nodular form is similar to a cancer, but it does not develop into a malignant tumor and does not pose a health hazard. Lipoma is a benign tumor that arises from fatty tissues. It is peculiar to greatly increase in size and also to suggest cancer. But, like mastopathy, this tumor is not malignant. Fibroadenoma - it is also often taken for cancer, because a ball is felt in the chest with a clear contour. This tumor can "move", can almost double in a matter of months. Although doctors recommend that it be removed, it does not degenerate into cancer. Cystoadenopapilloma - a tumor that occurs in the ducts of the mammary glands. It is frightening because there can be a clear or bloody splash of the nipple from the nipples. Sometimes even quite clearly a tumor is probed. But this, too, is not cancer. And even if theoretically it has a chance to degenerate into a malignant tumor, this is not always the case. However, to determine what kind of a woman's tumor, can only a doctor - using a variety of research.
The sickness of nuns and harlots?
Among all cancers, breast cancer is most common. Why does cancer arise? Science does not yet give an unambiguous answer. There are only observations: who gets this disease more often.
Menses. Girls who had to face them early - at 12 years old, twice as likely to become ill in the future with breast cancer than those whose critical days began to occur only after 16 years. It's bad if the menstrual period passes with severe pain, heavy bleeding. Women who have menstruation late - after 55 years of age - also fall into the risk group. At them malignant changes arise in 2-2,5 times more often.
Childbearing. Even in the XVIII century, breast cancer was called nun's disease. The nulliparous women really take more risks. But not all so unambiguously. According to recent studies, it is proved that procreation can protect women from cancer only after the appearance of the fourth child. Some scientists say that the number of births does not matter. It is important at what age you gave birth to your first-born. So, women who gave birth to a baby under 18 years old, three times less likely to develop breast cancer. And the rise in the incidence of cancer - breast cancer in the US is associated with the fashion to enter the status of mother for the first time after 35 years. Such a late first pregnancy in the body can lead to a number of adverse hormonal changes.
Abortions. An extremely bad influence is exerted on the woman's body by abortion before the first birth. Even if the operation itself was successful and without complications, there are often long-term effects: inflammatory diseases or hormonal disorders that can lead to malignant changes in the breast.
Heredity. There are so-called cancer families, where relatives from the "female" line suffer from "fatal" disease. If malignant changes in the breast were noted in the mother, grandmother or aunt, then you need to be on your guard. And if your sister has a disease, the risk increases eight times!
Smoking. No matter how we laughed at the slogan "To smoke - to harm the health," still the rejection of Europe from a cigarette reduced the incidence of cancer by 30 percent.
Food. Recently, oncologists are actively opposing excess fat in food. It is believed that it accelerates the growth of tumor cells. Especially dangerous are overheated or overcooked fats. So follow the rule not to warm up the food - cooked and immediately eaten.
Radiation. If you work with this dangerous phenomenon, worry about the protection measures.
Light at night. Scientists have found that breast cancer can be provoked by exposure to bright light at night. This is due to the inhibition of melatonin - the hormone of the pineal gland. The phenomenon was called a flight attendant's illness, because they often become victims of this factor.
How to recognize cancer?
Every month you need to check your own chest. It is better to undergo this procedure one week after menstruation, and those who have entered the menopause period, say, every first day of the month.
1st stage, inspection. You need to undress to the waist, stand at the mirror and carefully examine the mammary glands. You can change the position of the body, raise your hands, turn your torso. Have you noticed anything unusual? Try squeezing the nipple. Do you see any excreta?
2nd stage, feeling. In the standing position, try putting your right palm on the left gland and, using the circular movements of your fingers, feel the entire chest, easily pressing on it. Do the same with the other mammary gland. Nothing is found suspicious - peas, seals, depressions? Perfectly!
Now you can lie down, put a small pillow under your shoulder blades. It is necessary to cover the left breast with the right palm, and put the left hand behind the head. Fingers of the right hand, gently pressing, move around in a circle, feeling all the gland and the hollow of the armpit. The same must then be done with the other breast. If the surface of the bust is soft, there are no seals, peas and indentations, then you are doing well.
Cancer saves green tea
Although scientists still do not find a product that could help prevent cancer and breast cancer in particular, some of them may be extremely useful in this regard. One of the most important means of protection against this disease is green tea. Scientists at Boston University have proven that tumors of animals drinking this drink have a slower development. This is due to the presence in green tea of strong antioxidants that interfere with the action of carcinogens.
Even oncologists themselves advocate the use of fresh vegetables and fruits, bread, coarse fish, fish. Useful also are different types of cabbage: broccoli, Brussels, color. Food rich in calcium, cottage cheese, cheese - is also able to counteract breast tumors.
7 reasons to see a doctor
• Changing the shape of the breast: the skin in some places was drawn or, conversely, protruded.
• Changing the structure of the breast - the appearance of seals, peas, nodules. Seals are painless, the size and consistency does not change during the menstrual cycle.
• Constant unpleasant sensations in one breast.
• The appearance of dimples on the skin of the breast, when you raise your hands up.
• Change the shape of the nipple.
• Appearance of yellow or bloody discharge from the nipple.
• Increase in axillary lymph nodes.