showcase October 2016 55 www.womanthismonth.com With October being the official Breast Cancer Awareness month, it’s time to get your regular check-ups and educate yourself about the perils of this disease. MIDDLE EAST MEDICAL CENTER BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Breast cancer develops from the organ’s tissues. The signs and symptoms may include a lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue; a change in the size, shape or appearance of the breast; dimpling of the skin; newly inverted nipple; fluid coming from the nipple; peeling, scaling or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple or breast skin; and redness or pitting of the skin over the breast, like the skin of an orange. In those with distant spread of the disease, there may be bone pain, swollen lymph nodes and shortness of breath or yellow skin. Risk factors include obesity, lack of physical exercise, drinking alcohol, hormone replacement therapy during menopause, ionizing radiation, first menstruation at a young age, having children late or not at all, older age and family history. Five to 10 per cent of cases are due to genes inherited from a person's parents, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, among others. Diagnosis l Breast exam: Check both breasts and lymph nodes in the armpit, feeling for any lumps or other abnormalities. l Mammogram: Commonly used to screen for breast cancer, if an abnormality is detected. l Breast ultrasound: May be used to determine whether a new breast lump is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst. Treatment l Removing the breast cancer (lumpectomy) l Removing the entire breast (mastectomy) l Removing a limited number of lymph nodes (sentinel node biopsy) l Radiation therapy l Chemotherapy l Hormone therapy Prevention l Breast self-examination l Ask your doctor about breast cancer screening l Exercise l Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy l Maintain a healthy weight l Choose a nutritious diet l Preventive medications (chemoprevention) For appointments, contact Dr Mona Rashid Al Khalidi, obstetrics and gynaecology specialist at Middle East Medical Center – Hidd. Call 17 464-848. Dr Mona Rashid Al Khalidi
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