PINK-A-THON: Breast Cancer Awareness
Breast Cancer is an uncontrollable growth of breast cells. To better understand breast cancer, it helps to understand how any cancer can develop.
Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. The genes are in each cell's nucleus, which is the "control room" of each cell. Cells should ordinarily replace themselves over time, however, mutations can "turn on" and "turn off", certain genes producing more cells which can form into a t
umor.
A tumor can be benign (not dangerous) or malignant
(potentially dangerous to one's health). Benign tumors are considered cancerous. The term "breast cancer" refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast.
Over time, cancer cells can invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way to the underarm lymph nodes, small organs that filter our foreign substances in the body. If cancer seeps into the lymph nodes, they have a pathway into other parts of the body.
There are steps every person can take to help the body stay as healthy as possible, such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol and exercising regularly.
According to the American Cancer Society, any of the following unusual changes in the breast can be a symptom of breast cancer:
* swelling of all breast parts *skin irritation *breast pain *redness, thickening (nipple)
So, remember to get tested early if you discover any of these symptoms. And wear pink to show your support of women with breast cancer.
WEAR PINK ALL MONTH TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT & RAISE AWARENESS!!
