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Did you know that one in every 19 women are likely to develop breast cancer by the age of 75? It is a grim and frightening feeling to realise that everyone can be prone to breast cancer, especially when taken in tandem with the lifelong effects a diagnosis can bring to both the body and mind.
Despite the threatening nature of the disease, we should never give ourselves up to fear and willful disregard. In fact, the WHO has revealed that up to 80 percent of all cancers can be warded off through making active choices in our lifestyles. For a look into how you can shield yourself and your loved ones from this condition, CircleDNA—which provides DNA screening tools that grant you the power to access comprehensive and personalised knowledge on your own health—has informed us of some important factors to take into consideration in preventing breast cancer.
Along with an exclusive 30 percent discount just for our Localiiz readers, uncover how CircleDNA can be used hand-in-hand with means of protecting yourself from breast cancer.
Contrary to what many assume because of physical differences, there is a possibility for breast cancer to appear in men. It is estimated by the National Breast Cancer Foundation that there is up to around 2,910 known diagnoses that are found amongst men annually, with 410 of the cases being fatal. In fact, the mortality rate of male breast cancer patients is comparatively higher than in women, as fewer people are aware of this risk.
To reduce the number of victims, it is up to all sexes to spread awareness regarding the dangers that breast cancer poses to men. The types of breast cancer that males are susceptible to can affect their glandular tissue, milk ducts (yes, this is also present amongst men), muscle, fat, or even connective tissue cells. Detection plays a huge role, and men are advised to also perform self-examinations to search for lumps underneath and within the zone of their areolas and nipples, making sure to share any abnormal results with a physician.
Fortunately, it is not difficult to regularly keep track of the state of our bodies. Home self-examination can be done to keep tabs on breast health and foster a habit of being attuned to your bodily needs in your daily living, as you can easily perform them at home. It is recommended that this is performed a few days after your menstrual cycle has ended, so you can avoid attributing hormonal swelling or pain to abnormalities.
Setting up a routine of DIY check-ups can not only help you stay on top of irregularities that might appear, but it also builds up your skills in distinguishing between benign or unhealthy features at the same time. This practice should remain constant, but for groups above the age of 40, self-examination should be paired with an annual mammogram as well for good measure.
Doing self-check-ups frequently is a smart habit to develop. However, it should not be taken as a substitute for professional inspection in any way. Oftentimes, it is in its earliest stages that the breast cancer malignancy is slowly simmering without exhibiting any perceptible or tactile symptoms. It’s true that once your fingers begin to run over a lump, it should be a high priority to get yourself to a screening whenever possible, but there might not always be as obvious a sign for you to take notice of.
Pain may be part of regular menstrual or hormonal cycles, but in the situation that you find it to last more than three to four weeks, it is best to get yourself to the doctor as soon as possible. Other identifiers can include the skin in the breast area becoming suspiciously thick or red, perhaps even itching and feeling strangely warm. If you feel any swelling around your breasts, collarbone, or armpit, this is also a red flag. Your nipples may also provide a warning if there are unfamiliar pains, changes in its appearance, or releasing discharge.
Generally, the forms of treatment that are associated with cancer are typically known to include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and, in some cases, surgery. What may come as foreign information to some is the range of elements that are brought up when drafting up a treatment plan. It is not simply a matter of how dangerous the disease has become to the affected person, but also plenty of other pieces to the puzzle.
Depending on the stage and grade cancer of the patient, every person will be experiencing the disease differently with their own therapy regimen. The precise location of the cancer as well as its size are the physical aspects that give an idea of what remedies someone should opt for. Also beneficial is taking into account the physiological characteristics of the diagnosis as well, and tests are helpful in determining whether or not the cancer tests positive for hormone growth, or whether or not it has been linked to an inherited gene mutation. Of course, the earlier the detection, the more effective treatment is likely to be.
Most treatment programmes do tend to involve a mix of surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, as well as targeted therapies. Several are local forms of treatment, meaning they are used to specifically target the parts surrounding and close to the tumour, whilst systemic types of healing are spread through your entire bodily system to build the strength of cancer fighting agents overall. Mental health is also incredibly important in such a crucial time, whereby strong support networks and emotional counselling can be of help.
Without question, taking the measures to protect your baseline health is preferable to being medicated and doctored out of necessity. Even before the cancer detections and health checks, ensuring that your health is in prime condition can phase out your susceptibility to breast cancer from the inside out.
CircleDNA provides the means of spotlighting the conditions embedded into every fibre of our bodies and beyond. Their kit allows insight into your genetic risks for up to 36 varieties of cancer, amongst a wealth of information on 163 hereditary diseases that may affect you, as well as other disease risks.
One single droplet sample can be used to crack the code underlying all areas of your well-being, from deciphering your stress and sleep patterns to identifying your ideal diet. If making proactive transformations to your lifestyle can be regarded as your quest in staying protected against breast cancer and other illnesses, then think of CircleDNA testing as the map that leads the journey.
Another highly important part of breast cancer awareness is the immeasurably valuable research being dedicated to bettering the lives of affected people. As a gesture of gratitude that keeps the ball rolling, every purchase during the month of Pink October will become part of CircleDNA’s contribution to the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, with five percent of their total sales being donated to the cause.
Discover more about yourself through CircleDNA testing—get your hands on their kit before 31 October 2021 to enjoy a 30 percent discount, on us! Click here to find out more.
Built to fit individuals from all sorts of genetic and health backgrounds, CircleDNA enables people to better understand themselves, and better improve their well-being. Delivering comprehensive reports through DNA testing, their summaries present stats on diet, nutrition, hereditary disease risks, and more.
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