What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer

BY Megan Edwards Posted October 20, 2021

We’ve been raising awareness about Breast Cancer all month long and here’s some information we thought you should know! Sagicor is committed to raising awareness and educating as we encourage you to #CheckYoursOut for early detection and prevention.

Did You Know?

Breast cancer is one of the three most common cancers in the world. It’s considered treatable if detected early!

What are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

New lump in the breast or underarm.
Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
Pain in any area of the breast.

Interesting Fact!

Though the signs and symptoms of breast cancer differ from person to person, some persons have no signs or symptoms at all!

 
What’s the difference between a mammogram and a screening?

Screenings are crucial because they look for cancer in a woman's breast before any symptoms appear. Although screening cannot prevent illness, they can help early detection (when it is more treatable).

A mammogram, on the other hand, is an X-ray imaging of the breast. This method is also used by doctors to look for early indicators of breast cancer. Because all breasts are different, each woman's mammogram may look a bit different.

Types of Breast Cancer

Yes, there are different types of breast cancer. The type of breast cancer is determined by the specific cells in the breast that are affected. Some of the most searched breast cancer types on Google are:
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Metastatic Breast Cancer

This type of breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body and is considered the most advanced stage of the disease. This type usually progresses to other parts of the body, most commonly the bones, lungs, liver, or brain. Even though the cancer has spread, it is still considered breast cancer and is treated as such.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer is a particularly aggressive form of invasive breast cancer that accounts for roughly 15% of all cases. It is a malignancy that is tough to treat.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of invasive breast cancer that is relatively rare. It accounts for around 1% to 5% of all breast cancers.

 

Sources:
www.cancer.org
www.cancercenter.com
www.komen.org/
europepmc.org
www.cdc.gov