Nearly every woman has contemplated the possibility of breast cancer and what she would do if she was ever diagnosed. When I find myself wondering what I would do if I discovered I had cancer in my breast, I realize I should educate myself on the matter so that if a diagnosis ever comes, like it does with many unsuspecting women every year, I will be ready to face the necessary. With knowledge comes the power of awareness and the ability to stop cancer in its tracks if it is every detected.
The first thing that might make me concerned is if the doctor finds a suspicious lump in my breast from the results of a mammogram. What usually will happen at that point is the doctor will run another test on me to confirm the findings. I could also receive a painless ultrasound which would determine the malignancy of the lump. If it is beginning, as most irregular lumps are, there is nothing to worry about and I can rest at ease again.
If the doctor determines I may have cancer in my breast, he may recommend a biopsy. This is when a small piece of the infected tissue is examined under a microscope. It is by this process that the determination of whether or not the cells are cancerous is made.
While it can certainly be a nuisance to go through the required procedures to recognize the presence of cancer in my breast, the fact that it can be lifesaving makes it worth the trouble. It is recommended that women age 40 to about 50 should have a mammogram every two years or so to catch anything irregular before it becomes severe. Also, women age 50 and above should have a yearly mammogram as risk factors increase with age. Women under 40, unless they have breast cancer risk factors, need not get a mammogram.
Regular physicals and doctor checkups can be sufficient for younger women unless there is a specific risk like history of breast cancer in the family.
Almost all cancer victims will have surgery to remove the cancerous tissues before they spread. This is a scary fact, one that every woman who finds herself at risk for breast cancer should understand. I realize the importance of being self informed about how cancer identification procedures work so if I ever learn I have cancer in my breast, I will be prepared to face what I need to in order to recover.
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