Breast cancer remains a serious condition, affecting one in twelve women sometime in their lifetime. But, fortunately, it is no longer typically life threatening or permanently scarring.
Breast cancer, like all other cancers, is extremely mysterious. Breast cancer is an active research area and many questions remain unanswered. The underlying causes of breast cancer remain unknown in most cases, but the way by which it spreads and acts is better known today.
The risks of breast cancer- who contracts it the benefits and negatives of different treatments, the rates of survival and more are quantified to a greater degree.
Though many claims regarding diet are overblown the true effects diet has on cancer are becoming clearer. Though many questions remain it has been determined that low estrogen producing diets and lifestyles are positive. Low fat diets also contribute to that, and so does regular exercise.
Early detection and diagnosis has reached the stage where as few as 50 clumped cancer cells can be identified. Chemical tests for early detection are becoming cheaper and more sophisticated. Ultrasound is becoming more common. Treatments now range from the traditional lumpectomy or mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation to more advanced hormone treatments.
Even with all the innovation, though, self-examination remains one of the best practices. It is in the individual’s control and makes possible ferreting out anything requiring further investigation by more advanced methods. Mammograms remain a low cost, low risk and low discomfort method of detecting tumors.
Recovery is typically faster with fewer recurrences being seen thanks to more precise diagnosis and treatment. Digital mammography is computer assisted and makes the review of test results much more accurate than in the past.
Where, tragically, a woman or man has contracted breast cancer and requires surgery, improved reconstructive techniques have lessened the harm. The FDA has recently taken silicon implants off the forbidden list. Implantation and plastic surgery in general have become less onerous. Patients are now often out of the hospital the same day as the surgery.
It is normal in today’s world for almost 100% of the individuals who receive early diagnosis and treatment (treatment during stage 0 or stage I) to live longer than five years. Most of these individuals never have any recurrence at all and aren’t bothered by their breast cancer for the rest of their life.
This disease used to be terminal, and though it is still a serious condition it is now less of a threat. Individuals that contract it can still typically enjoy a cancer free life after treatment.