In honor of breast cancer awareness month- here are a few things that everyone should be aware of.
The Numbers
According to the American Cancer Society, there will be over 250,000 new cases of breast cancer and over 40,000 people will die from breast cancer in 2017 alone. If that doesn’t scare you- 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer at some point in their lives and the death rate is 20%. I’m not sure if you caught that, so I’ll mention it again… 20% of women who receive a breast cancer diagnosis are finding out the cause of their death before it happens.
Warning Signs
Each woman is different and therefore will experience different warning signs, although, the most common signs of breast cancer are a change in the look or feel of the breast. Other signs may include the infamous lump, thickening inside the breast or underarm, swelling, change of size or shape of the breast, an itchy or scaly nipple, dimpling of the breast or nipple, nipple discharge or pain in the breast that won’t go away.
There may not always be a sign that something is wrong, that is why it is important especially for women to get checked regularly in order to catch it as soon as possible.
You Can Help!
Whether you want to volunteer, donate to research, or help fund raise, the American Cancer Society welcomes your contribution in the fight against cancer. Click here for more information.
If you would like to schedule an appointment to see Dr. Ray, click here.