In recent times, breast cancer is regarded to be the commonest diagnosed life-threatening cancer in women. It is a disease in which the breast cells grow out of control.
In other words, breast cancer is a type of cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is currently the most common type of cancer worldwide, with approximately 2.26 million cases recorded.
Breast Cancer is about 100 times more common in women than in men, although males tend to have poorer outcomes due to delays in diagnosis.
Also, breast cancer is the second most common non-skin cancer and the fifth most prevalent factor of cancer death. Experts in the field have made it known that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer during her lifetime, although it is more prevalent among older women.
Over the years, improvements in screening and treatment for breast cancer have increased survival rates drastically, that is early detection and subsequent treatment of breast cancer will lead to enhanced prognosis and survival rates.
The need for the sensitization of the public on the risk and symptoms of breast cancer has been a major concern because the more people understand about breast cancer, the better the chances of detecting the abnormalities before cancer develops or detecting cancer at an early stage is the key to the best possible outcome.
In addition, the awareness of breast cancer around the globe is for women to know the importance of constantly examining themselves to look out for obvious symptoms around their breasts and for them to know that late discovery of cancer may lead to the spread to other parts of the body.
This is for women to know that breast cancer treatment is highly effective, and obtaining survival rates of 90% higher is feasible if the disease is at an early stage.
In essence, the month of October has been set aside as breast cancer awareness month and it is done annually to raise awareness of the impact of breast cancer because a lack of awareness and late presentations contribute to poor outcomes.
Packaged by Ibukun Ademisoro and Omolara Oyewole
