BREAST CANCER

Awareness and early detection are your best lines of defence

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Approximately 55 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer every day – that’s more than 20,000 people each year. One in seven women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, meaning you or someone you know could be affected by this disease. 

October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so there’s never been a better time to brush up on your knowledge and awareness.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Medical oncologist Dr Belinda Kiely explains that the symptoms of breast cancer depend on where the tumour is and how quickly it’s growing in the breast. “Most people diagnosed with breast cancer are diagnosed with early stage disease, where the cancer is contained in the breast and the lymph nodes in the armpit,” Dr Kiely says. “Many people will have no symptoms and the breast cancer is found during a screening mammogram.”

However, here are some signs to watch out for: a lump or thickening in the breast, changes in the size or shape of the breast, changes to the nipple including redness, ulcers or discharge, changes to the skin including redness, rash or dimpling and swelling or lumps in the armpit.

 TREATMENT