Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime? (www.breastcancer.org)

What does it mean for cancer to be invasive? Noninvasive? What are the warning signs? So many questions surround the disease because almost everyone knows someone that’s been affected, but no one knows how to prevent it 100%. There is no cure. During the month of October, we’ll be focusing on a variety of health behaviors that have been shown to be linked to breast cancer in some way.

Below is a general overview of the disease and some definitions that may help you understand the different types women may have.

• Non-invasive breast cancer is contained to the ducts or lobules of the breast.
• Invasive breast cancer has traveled outside the milk duct and into the breast tissue.

Which type a woman has will determine the treatment process.

Warning signs include a lump or mass in the breast, skin irritation (appearing red, scaly, or thickened), breast pain, or nipple discharge (www.cancercenter.com). While these are visible from the outside, there are also symptoms that manifest internally and may not be immediately noticeable. This is why it’s important to see your health care physician regularly!