Breast Pain Why You Can Stop Worrying About Cancer
Here are nine things it probably is instead.
The fear factor
Breast pain can be scary. Your mind immediately thinks cancer, but in all likelihood, cancer is not the cause. The important thing for patients to realize is that while it can be a sign , it is very rare, says Dr. Michael Cowher, a breast surgeon with Cleveland Clinic. Breast cancer rarely produces painful symptoms, and the best way to detect it is still with your fingers. Breast pain is often related to hormonal changes, but there are other causes. Here are some to consider.
Premenstrual pain
Women often feel heaviness in their breasts right before their period even to the point of experiencing pain while walking up stairs. This is because the surge in the hormones estrogen and progesterone cause the breasts milk glands and ducts to enlarge and the breasts to retain water. This type of pain usually resolves during or shortly after the menstrual cycle, when hormones have returned to their normal levels.
Costochondritis
This is an arthritic pain in the middle of the chest, between the ribs and breastbone, and it is caused by poor posture or aging. Women describe it as a burning sensation in the breast. The symptoms may mimic those of a heart attack or other heart condition. If swelling is involved, it might be a condition called Tietze Syndrome. Applying heat or ice or taking ibuprofen can usually treat this type of pain.
Noncyclical breast pain
Fibrocystic breast condition
Too much caffeine
An old bra
Metastatic Breast Cancer And Fear Of Cancer Progression
Feeling anxious and frightened about breast cancer spreading further is common for people who have metastatic breast cancer. Many people worry what will happen if their treatment needs to change or what treatment options will be available to them if their cancer spreads. These anxieties and fears are called fear of cancer progression.
If you have early breast cancer, you may worry about your cancer returning. These fears are called fear of cancer recurrence.
While metastatic breast cancer may not go away completely, treatment may control it for a long time, sometimes many years. If one treatment stops working, there is usually another to try. New treatments are being developed and tested all the time.
While fear of cancer progressing may never fade, there are ways to manage it. BCNA has developed a series of videos to assist women to manage fear of cancer progression.
Alcohol Can Cause 7 Types Of Cancer
Alcohol consumption might cause seven types of cancer. These include oropharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and breast cancer.
Alcohol consumption may also lead to skin, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.
Alcohol can cause at least 7 types of cancer
The heaviest drinkers are at the highest risk of getting cancer. But people consuming low to moderate amounts can also be at risk. An estimated 3.5% of all cancer-related deaths in the U.S. are due to alcohol consumption.
Alcohol consumption is a considerable risk factor in getting liver cancer. Reducing your alcohol use is an important cancer prevention strategy.
Take Away
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I Decided To Stop Worrying
It’s common to struggle with your confidence after breast cancer. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that my body will never be the same again.
The minute I decided to stop worry about how my body was changing, the better I felt about myself.
Every woman deserves breast cancer-specific support once treatment ends. Join us and ask your politician to campaign for Care After Breast Cancer.
Are You Worried About Breast Cancer
People worry about cancer for many different reasons. Perhaps you have a family member or friend who has been diagnosed. Or maybe you have symptoms you think might be cancer.
People worry about cancer for many different reasons. Perhaps you have a family member or friend who has been diagnosed. Or maybe you have symptoms you think might be cancer.
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Do Your Best To Stay Calm Online And Off
“That was the worst thing ever,” the breast cancer survivor recalls of first researching the disease. “I was just trying to find answers to questions like ‘What is breast cancer?’ and ‘How do you fight it?’ Because I really didnt know.”
Diagnosed at 31, Zoutomou-Quintanilla describes a tremendously difficult journey to understanding her illness. For one thing, her age led to incorrect assumptions about her risk namely that she was just too young to have it and multiple misdiagnoses followed. Doctors told her the lump she was feeling was just a cyst, but as it grew, questions lingered. Turning to the internet didnt help it often offered opinion when Zoutomou-Quintanilla needed science-backed fact.
I was just trying to find answers to questions like What is breast cancer? and How do you fight it? Because I really didnt know.
“I went from living my dream to living a nightmare,” she says of the more than two years it ultimately took to begin treatment two years that divided Zoutomou-Quintanilla’s attention between building her ideal career and possibly, maybe preparing for the fight of her life.
This year in the United States, 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women. An additional 2,650 are anticipated in men. Breast cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer globally, per the World Health Organization, and decade over decade, survival rates have generally improved
“Everybody’s journey is different.
People Need To Stop Thinking That It Is A Womans Disease: Mens Breast Cancer Stories
LINCOLN, Neb. – A breast cancer diagnosis can be scary and life-changing for anyone. As Breast Cancer Awareness month comes to a close, its important to shine a light on some of the least-told stories.
For men, the risk of getting breast cancer is 1 in 833 according to the American Cancer Society, so when they do get a diagnosis it can be isolating.
A 2020 cancer diagnosis for Peter Van Elswyk, an Iowa native, was nothing short of surprising.
I told some guys at work that I found this lump and I was unsure what it was, Van Elswyk said. And a guy across the room said I had a buddy who found a lump under his arm and it was cancer.
Not only was it breast cancer, but it had also metastasized to his lung. Its incurable but it is treatable. Van Elswyk said he was the only man he knew who had breast cancer.
It just felt like I was on this island, Van Elswyk said.
Enter Pat Washburn of Omaha. She is on a cross-country mission in her Marlyn Mobile. She just is wrapping up her tour through the southeast. Her husband, Marlyn, died of breast cancer five years ago.
I would give anything to hold his hand again, Washburn said. I would give anything to have my husband here.
She took the last car Marlyn bought, a 2014 Dodge Dart, put a picture of his face on the hood, and now drives all over the states talking with survivors and spreading awareness that Men Too can get breast cancer.
SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER IN MEN:
According to the American Cancer Society
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Other Indications That It Might Be Cancer
You know that a lump may be a sign of breast cancer. But some types, like inflammatory breast cancer, dont usually cause a lump. So, its worth knowing other signs and symptoms of breast cancer, such as:
- swelling around your breast, armpit, or collarbone
- dimpling of your skin, which can resemble an orange peel
- red or discolored, dry, flaky, or thickening skin on your breast or nipple
- unusual nipple discharge, especially blood
- the nipple is turning inward
- any change in size or shape of a breast
If cancer has advanced beyond your breast, symptoms may include:
- unexplained weight loss
- shortness of breath
Symptoms in men are very much the same. Of course, having one or more symptoms doesnt mean you have breast cancer, but the only way to know for certain is to call a doctor as quickly as possible.
Breast cancer is most common in people who:
- with age, especially after 50
- have a personal or family history of breast cancer
- have their first period before 12 years old or menopause after 55 years old
- experience physical inactivity
- take hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy
- consume alcohol
Its important to note that the stress of enduring racism, discrimination, and other racist systems may play a part in developing the disease beyond genetic factors.
Avoid Toxins And Cleanse Your Body
As I said earlier, cancer cells develop when our body is toxic. Heavy metals are one big source of toxins. The modern age of heavy metal pollution began with the Industrial Revolution.
We started to use it in gasoline, paint, toys, tooth fillings, thermometers, and other things. Industrial waste leak heavy metals to our groundwater, lakes, streams, and rivers. Heavy metals can diminish your bodys immune system.
Some heavy metals you should be aware of are:
Aluminum is poisonous if absorbed and can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. You can find it in many antiperspirants and cooking utensils.
Mercury is one of the most toxic substances on earth. When mercury binds to hemoglobin less oxygen reaches the tissues. Cancer cells thrive when there is little oxygen. Therefore mercury can cause cancer.
Environmental toxins destroy our health
Amalgam tooth fillings are our biggest source of mercury. They contain 50% mercury! The metals in our mouths corrode in time when there are air and moisture. After a while, the vapor from the tooth filling can then get into our lungs or digestive system.
If you want to avoid cancer, then you need to remove your toxic tooth fillings. Make an appointment with a biological dentist. They specialize in removing amalgam tooth fillings.
You need to find a dentist that you can trust and that uses the right equipment and protocols.
Chemtrails have nothing to do with the jet engine combustion process. They are a guarded secret by the US government.
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Why It’s Time To Stop Worrying About Breast Cancer And Aids
FREE Catholic Classes Other diseases which kill far more people need attention too.
Nobody wants to die early. Unfortunately, early death is part of reality. Most victims are simply unlucky, and some are bearing the consequences of poor choices. Every case is tragic. Yet, what is most tragic of all may be the intense focus on the wrong diseases. Dollars spent to research cures of diseases affiliated with popular causes that kill few, means less to spend researching cures for the killers of many.
Eat Your Fruits & Vegetables And Limit Alcohol
A healthy diet can help lower the risk of breast cancer. Try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and limit alcohol. While moderate drinking can be good for the heart in older adults, even low levels of drinking can increase the risk of breast cancer. And with other risks of alcohol, not drinking is the overall healthiest choice.
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Why You Can Stop Worrying About Breast Cancer
The Fear Factor
Breast pain can be scary. Your mind immediately thinks cancer, but in all likelihood, cancer is not the cause. The important thing for patients to realize is that while it can be a sign , it is very rare, says Dr. Michael Cowher, a breast surgeon with Cleveland Clinic. Breast Cancer rarely produces painful symptoms, and the best way to detect it is still with your fingers. Breast pain is often related to hormonal changes, but there are other causes. Here are some to consider.
Premenstrual Pain
Women often feel heaviness in their breasts right before their period even to the point of experiencing pain while walking up stairs. This is because the surge in the hormones estrogen and progesterone cause the breasts milk glands and ducts to enlarge and the breasts to retain water. This type of pain usually resolves during or shortly after the menstrual cycle, when hormones have returned to their normal levels.
Costochondritis
This is an arthritic pain in the middle of the chest, between the ribs and breastbone, and it is caused by poor posture or aging. Women describe it as a burning sensation in the breast. The symptoms may mimic those of a heart attack or other heart condition. If swelling is involved, it might be a condition called Tietze Syndrome. Applying heat or ice or taking ibuprofen can usually treat this type of pain.
Noncyclical Breast Pain
Fibrocystic Breast Condition
Too Much Caffeine
An Old Bra
An Infection
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Seek Medical Care As Soon As Possible
Of course, there’s a difference between not stressing yourself out with unverifiable assumptions or anecdotes and failing to arm yourself with important knowledge. Dr. Marisa Weiss, who is director of both breast radiation oncology and breast health outreach at Lankenau Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA, founded Breastcancer.org as a resource and community for patients, with education as a key focus.
“We know breast cancer is the most common cancer for women,” Weiss offers. “So it makes sense for you to make the extra effort to do what you need to do to give yourself the benefit of early detection.”
An important first step, Weiss says, is identifying your personal risk factors and discussing with a healthcare professional how to minimize them. Depending on your age, your doctor may also recommend annual mammograms or regular self-exams. Per Weiss and Breastcancer.org, citing the American Cancer Society, symptoms of breast cancer to look for include:
-
swelling of all or part of the breast
-
skin irritation or dimpling
-
nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
-
redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
-
a nipple discharge other than breast milk
-
a lump in the underarm area
Weiss emphasizes that all of these symptoms can, and often are, indicative of something far less harmful than cancer “but you don’t want to guess about something important.” Simply put, no amount of googling and rationalizing will do you as much good as a trip to the doctor’s office.
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Ways To Prevent Breast Cancer
Breast cancer. Just reading those words can make many women worry. And thats natural.
Nearly everyone knows someone touched by the disease.
But there is a lot of good news about breast cancer these days. Treatments keep getting better, and we know more than ever about ways to prevent the disease. These eight simple steps can help lower the risk of breast cancer. Not every one applies to every woman, but together they can have a big impact.
Fact : Wasp Dung Was Used As A Treatment For Breast Cancer
Insect faeces featured heavily in ancient remedies for breast cancer. An Egyptian papyrus recommended a mixture of cowâs brain and wasp dung to be applied to breast tumours for four days. Insect faeces were still considered one of the most advanced treatments for breast cancer up until the Middle Ages. Thankfully, treatments have advanced a great deal since then.
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Use The Internet Wisely
Using Dr. Google to learn more about symptoms is a double-edged sword, says Dr. Korenstein. On the one hand, it is very helpful when people already know they have a certain condition, such as diabetes. The Internet can help them learn more and prepare questions for their doctor. But scrolling can also drive people into a tailspin if they have yet to see a doctor for their symptoms. Internet searches cant replace an in-person visit because a lot of context is missing, says Dr. Korenstein. Theres a lot of hysteria on the Internet, and its really hard to parse out good information, she adds. If youre tempted to search for meaning behind your symptoms online, channel that energy into doing something else. Going down the rabbit hole of web searches only fuels anxiety.
Fact : The First Record Of A Mastectomy Offered For Breast Cancer Was Over 1500 Years Ago
The first record of a breast mastectomy was in A.D. 548 on Theodora, Empress of Byzantine. Significant progress in our understanding and treatment of breast cancer in recent decades has seen a dramatic reduction in the use of âradicalâ mastectomy , which was the standard surgical approach to breast cancer right up until the 1960s.
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Avoid Birth Control Pills Particularly After Age 35 Or If You Smoke
Birth control pills have both risks and benefits. The younger a woman is, the lower the risks are. While women are taking birth control pills, they have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. This risk goes away quickly, though, after stopping the pill. The risk of stroke and heart attack is also increased while on the pill particularly if a woman smokes. However, long-term use can also have important benefits, like lowering the risk of ovarian cancer, colon cancer and uterine cancer not to mention unwanted pregnancy so theres also a lot in its favor. If youre very concerned about breast cancer, avoiding birth control pills is one option to lower risk.
Find Out Your Family History
Women with a strong family history of cancer can take special steps to protect themselves, so its important for women to know their family history. You may be at high risk of breast cancer if you have a mother or sister who developed breast or ovarian cancer or if you have multiplefamily members who developed breast, ovarian or prostate cancer. A doctor or genetic counselor can help you understand your family history of the disease.
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