Breast cancer is one of those feared illnesses by many women. There are numerous commercials about breast cancer awareness, including statistics and warning signs. It’s been talked about for decades and most people will know someone who has it or has suffered from it.
There are some who no longer fear it as much. After all, many women do survive it. Yet there are still many who die from it every year, whether it’s a more aggressive form of breast cancer or it’s gone undiagnosed for too long. After all, breast cancer doesn’t just appear as lumps in the breast and can sometimes appear as discoloration on the skin.
While the prognosis is good for many, it’s important to catch it as early as possible. You’ll also want to take steps to avoid contributory factors when possible. Here’s all you need to know about breast cancer to help protect your life.
It Doesn’t Just Affect Women
Let’s start by getting rid of the misconception that this is female-only cancer. There are certain cancers out there that can only affect women, but breast cancer isn’t one of them. More women than men are statistically likely to be diagnosed, but there is breast tissue in men. There are estrogen levels in men. It is possible for men to develop this cancer.
One of the reasons the stats are so high for women is because men don’t tend to get diagnosed. They are embarrassed by the fact that they could have the disease since it’s viewed as female cancer. More men than women are likely to die of cancer because of this fact.