breast cancer
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast grow out of control.
How many women have breast cancer?
Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among Kenyan women. In Kenya, 12.5% of cancer cases are breast cancer cases. However, it is a preventable disease.
What are the risk factors?
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Heredity & Family History
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Mutations - BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations
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Previous abnormal biopsy
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Chest wall radiation
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High breast density
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Reproductive history- nulliparity
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Early menarche
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No breastfeeding history
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Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
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Lifestyle – obesity, physical inactivity, tobacco & alcohol
How can I prevent getting breast cancer?
Limit alcohol consumption
Limit tobacco use
Exercise regularly
Maintain a healthy diet
Breast-feed
What are the symptoms?
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Breast lump or thickening
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Change in size, shape, and/or appearance of the breast
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Dimpling of the skin on the breast
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Newly inverted nipple
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Scaling, peeling, crusting of pigmented skin area around the nipple
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Redness of skin on breast
Consult a healthcare professional immediately if you have any of these symptoms.
What are the screening methods?
What are some treatment options?
Sources:
National Cancer Screening Guidelines
https://www.health.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/National-Cancer-Screening-Guidelines-2018.pdf
Globocan 2018
https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/404-kenya-fact-sheets.pdf
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352470
https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/mammography