Ahram Online joins world-wide efforts to shed light on a clear plan of action to keep the breast cancer nightmare at bay. Experts insist on conveying their messages to keep people from burying their head in the sand.

October is breast cancer awareness month worldwide; a tribute to the endeavours of those who spare nothing towards a cure, improving treatment methods and spreading general awareness about the second world-wide cause of cancer-related deaths. There is much room for quality of life and improvement – if, and only if, women stop shying away from including these preventive measures into their lifestyle.

Dr Wafaa Abdel Hadi, Clinical Oncologist, Cairo University, is one of few who had been constantly offering awareness lectures to women across all sectors of Egyptian society. She aims to spread the word of the importance of early detection and equip every Egyptian woman with an action plan. With more women responding and anxious to know more, the optimistic undertone of her words is unmistakable.

"Breast cancer awareness campaigns and the new technologies in early detection of breast cancer have elevated the percentage of the newly-diagnosed and, consequently, has offered to cure more women who come at early stages," states Dr Wafaa.

“More women are getting cured from cancer these days,” she continued “and things will get better provided we pay attention to these five important messages: know your risk factors, follow a healthy lifestyle, know the shape of your breasts well, beware of the early warning signs of cancer and get your annual check-ups as recommended."

Dr Wafaa elaborates on the previously mentioned points as follows:

Who's at risk?

Can someone be more prone to getting breast cancer than others? Well, the answer is yes, but one has to keep in mind that one of the major risk factors is simply being a female! Men also get breast cancer, but at a lower rate.

Other risk factors include a family history of cancer, age and exposure to excess hormones.

If a mother, aunt and/or sister had breast cancer, it indicates a genetic susceptibility that runs in the family; nevertheless, if genetic testing proves positive for gene mutation, the chance of getting cancer is only 20-30 per cent.

As for the age factor: the older someone gets, the more likely he/she gets sick because the body is getting older and less able to fight diseases in general - one of which is cancer.

Exposure to hormones is not limited to oral contraceptive pills (which use hormones to regulate the period) because the new-generation, low-dose hormone pills leave scientists with many more questions in recent years as to the pill’s role in cancer.

An earlier menstruation factors as a higher cancer risk, as well, because the longer ovaries secrete estrogens, the higher the risk. For females whose first menstruation starts earlier, especially before the age of 12 (menarche), the later she gets her menopause (after the age of 55).

Leading a healthy lifestyle is by far the best solution for lowering the risk of cancer: eating organic fruits and vegetables, excercising regularly, maintaining an ideal weight according to weight and age, no smoking and drinking alcohol.

Laughter should not be underrated. Although people still don't believe that laughing is the best medicine, well, having high morale and keeping in good spirits increases immunity and, hence, the ability to fight diseases.

Another piece of advice is to know what’s normal for you - and then keep track.

No one in the world will know the shape of your breasts better than you and, therefore, you will immediately notice any troublesome change. Some women are born with a retracted nipple; others have one breast lower than the other, especially after breast feeding, etc. Don’t ignore any changes; feel free to take any changes to an expert oncologist. Make it a monthly habit to feel for lumps or changes in your breasts a few days after your period ends, and here’s how:

    1. Stand with arms aside and look at your breasts in the mirror. Note if they are similar, or if you see any abnormalities.

    2. Put your hands above your head and inspect for any change in the under surface of the breasts.

    3. Put your hands in your waist and squeeze to contract your chest muscles and look for abnormalities.

    4. Now, imagine that you have divided each breast into four quadrants. With the tip of your three middle fingers and in a circular motion start examining each quadrant without leaving the surface of the skin.

    5. Do it once lightly and a second time, deeper.

    6. After finishing the four quadrants, don't forget to check under the armpits and above the collar bone for any small lumps in the lymph nodes.

    7. Repeat from step four while you are lying down in bed so your breasts would go aside and reveal anything that has been deep and hard to reach while standing.

During your self-examination, you look for the early warning signs of breast cancer, such as:

1. A bone-like lump or mass

2. Enlarged lymph nodes

3. Change in shape of either breast

4. Change in the skin, such as dimpling or redness

5. Retracted nipple

6. Nipple itching, scaling, redness or discharge

7. Continuous pain in the same position, regardless of the time of the period

If you notice any of these signs, you should immediately have an oncologist look at it.

The mammogram option

Women over 40 years of age should have annual mammography tests. If, however, there is a family history of breast cancer at a younger age, annual checkups are recommended before 40.

Before the age of 35 only a breast ultrasound is performed, due to the firm texture of young breasts. The exception to this if the woman has already nursed children, where the breasts lose some of their firmness.

Girls over 20 years of age should have a breast exam at an oncologist every three years in addition to her monthly self-breast exam. Unfortunately, younger women are seen increasingly with breast cancer.