International Day to fight Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer with more than 2.2 million cases in 2020 in the world and is the main cause of mortality in women, since around 685,000 died as a result of this disease according to data from the World Health Organization. In Spain, nearly 25,000 new cases were diagnosed. 

It is estimated that 1 in 8 women will have breast cancer during their lifetime.

The WHO objective is to reduce mortality from this disease by 2.5% annually between 2020-2040, which would prevent 2.5 million deaths worldwide, which means that by 2030, 25% of deaths from breast cancer among women under 70 years of age would be avoided, and by 2040 it would be 40%.

To achieve this goal, health promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive management of breast cancer is essential.

Although the highest numbers are suffered by the female population, we know that it also affects men, although in a much smaller number between 0.5% and 1% of cases of this type of cancer.

Generally, the symptoms of breast cancer that we can observe are the following:

• A nodule or thickening in the breast.
• ___The alteration in the size, shape or appearance of a sine.
• The appearance of dimpling, redness, cracks or other alterations in the skin.
• ___The change in appearance of the nipple or the alteration in the surrounding skin (areola).
• Abnormal secretion by the nipple.

The symptoms are warning signs and do not have to appear all, nor at the same time. In 90% of the cases in which breast nodules appear, they are benign, that is, they are non-cancerous breast masses, but it is important to go to a specialist doctor without delaying more than 1 or 2 months even if you do not feel any associated pain.

What can we do to prevent it?There are factors that we cannot control in the development of this type of disease but there are three fundamental things that we can all do, men and women:

Examine yourself on a regular basis at least once a month, and make women of all ages aware of the importance of this examination and of contacting medical services if they notice the appearance of any symptom.

Carry out annual medical check-ups with the gynecologist, and in the case of men encourage the women around them to do them.

Maintain healthy lifestyle habits with a healthy and balanced diet, physical exercise and avoiding alcohol and tobacco consumption.

In AECC #SacaPecho for the most vulnerable.

#InternationalBreastCancerDay.