Awareness

Being BREAST AWARE is part of general body awareness. It’s learning how your breasts LOOK and FEEL. It is important to know what is normal for you.  Everyone is different and as you go through the different stages of your lives, your breasts are continually changing.

Facts

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among West Australian women (not including non-melanoma skin cancers).

The risk of breast cancer increases with age.

Myths

Breast Cancer only affects older women.
False; The risk of developing breast cancer does increase as we age, but breast cancer can occur in our younger years as well. In WA, about 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer before they are 85.

Only women get Breast Cancer.
False; Men can also develop breast cancer. Less than one per cent of all breast cancers are diagnosed will be in a male. Both men and women have breast tissue - but men just have less of it. It is possible though to do a mammogram on a male.

Being diagnosed with Breast Cancer is like a death sentence.
False; Breast Cancer can be treated successfully when diagnosed early. The majority of women survive breast cancer, stressing the importance of breast awareness and early detection.

Mammograms can prevent breast cancer.
False; Mammograms detect breast cancer – they do not prevent you from developing breast cancer.

Research has shown that there are some ways that can help reduce the risk of breast cancer developing.

Breast cancer prevention takes on two forms;

• primary prevention – things that may reduce the risk of the disease developing
• secondary prevention – early detection of the breast cancer so that successful treatment is more likely.

It is important to remember that we cannot always prevent breast cancer from occurring.  Breast cancer can still occur even in people who take steps to prevent it from happening.

Primary Prevention of Breast Cancer
There are a number of ways that people can help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.  These include;

• Physical activity – one hour of activity at least three times per week.
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Eating healthily – a diet with lots of fruit and vegetables for antioxidants and folate as well as low in fat.

Secondary Prevention of Breast Cancer
This involves taking steps to detect breast cancer early.  Breast cancer that is treated early has a greater chance of being treated successfully.

Early detection of breast cancer is very important in helping treat the disease.

Early detection measures should include being breast aware, seeing a doctor if there are any symptoms and women over 40 having a regular mammogram.

Being Breast Aware
Being breast aware is part of general body awareness.  It means knowing how one’s breasts normally look and feel.  It is also important to remember that most breast lumps, especially in young women, are hormonal and normal.

If there is a change in the breast, however, it is important to see a doctor. 

Some changes to look for in breasts:

• a lump or lumpiness
• changes to the skin eg. Rash, dimpling
• change in size or shape of the breast
• nipple discharge or new inversion of the nipple
• new and persistent pain

Breast Cancer Screening (Mammograms)
All women aged over 40 can have a free mammogram provided by BreastScreen. 

It is recommended that all women aged between 50 and 69 have a mammogram every two years.

Some women should have a mammogram each year.  This includes women who have had a previous diagnosis of breast cancer and those with a strong family history.

Research has also shown that some factors might increase a woman’s risk or chance of developing breast cancer. These factors are called risk factors.

A risk factor is anything that increases the possibility of getting a disease. Different cancers have different risk factors. We know that exposing the skin to strong sunlight is a risk factor for developing skin cancer and that smoking is a risk factor for cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx, bladder, kidney and several other organs.

Having one or more risk factors does not mean that a person will definitely develop breast cancer, but it might increase their chance. Some women with one or more risk factors might never develop breast cancer and some women with breast cancer have no obvious risk factors (aside from getting older).

Risk Factors
The most important risk factors appear to be:

• Being a female
  The main risk factor for developing breast cancer is being a woman.  Men can get breast cancer but it is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancers.
• Getting older
  Most women with breast cancer have no obvious risk factors aside from getting older.
• Having a strong family history of breast bancer
• Having previously been diagnosed with Breast Cancer or DCIS

Other factors that seem to slightly increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer include:

• Starting menstruation at a relatively early age (before 12 years)
• Starting menopause  at a relatively late age (after 55 years)
• Not having children or having a first child after 30 years of age
• Not breastfeeding – the more months spent breastfeeding, the lower the risk of developing breast cancer
• Taking combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) after menopause, especially when taken for 5 years or longer
• Gaining  a lot of weight in adulthood, especially after menopause
• Drinking alcohol (more than 2 standard drinks a day)
• Previously having been diagnosed with lobular carcinoma in situ LCIS or atypical hyperplasia

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• Downloads and Further Information

• Are You Breast Aware?
  

• Prevention and detection of breast cancer
  
• Help Give Breast Cancer the Boot - A Practical Guide
  
• Breast Health A word from Dr David Ingram Dr David Ingram is a Specialist Surgeon in the management of Breast Diseases at the Mount Hospital Medical Centre. Dr Ingram was recently appointed as a Director on the BCFWA Board and will be providing regular updates on the BCFWA website on new developments and treatments. Click here to see his latest information.