Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Singaporean women, yet most of us are not as concerned about it as we should be. Unlike most illnesses, breast cancer can be detected early through a mammogram. However, despite the ease of getting tested, most women are still not making the trip to the clinic.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (we bet you already knew that), and we’ll be running a series of stories about women and their relationship with breasts. To start things off, we thought you might want to acquaint yourself with these less well-known facts about the illness.
But most women still don’t go for mammogram for early detection. A survey commissioned by Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) in 2017 found that while nine out of 10 Singaporeans consider breast cancer to be dangerous and regular breast checks, important, only 62 percent of women reported having ever done a self-examination. The Health Promotion Board recommends going for a mammogram every two years.
But it only works for women aged above 35. To be safe, do your regular Breast Self-examination to detect any anomalies.
While it’s not guaranteed that you wouldn’t get breast cancer if you eat a plate of greens for every meal, it has been proven to be an effective preventive measure.
Studies have found a correlation between the amount of fatty foods consumed and the risk of getting breast cancer. In fact, people who are overweight are believed to have higher risk of getting cancer, including breast cancer.
(Here are “10 Clean Eating Tips For Weight Loss And Better Health”)
Just because men have flatter chests, that doesn’t mean that men can’t get breast cancer. Men do have a risk of getting breast cancer, although it’s not common. Less than 1% of breast cancer patients are men, and they usually happen in those above 60, although younger men also have a risk of getting it.
Older women aged above 62 are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer (please inform your family and friends). Also, like many illnesses, it can be hereditary. If your mother, sister or daughter has breast cancer, you face a greater risk of being diagnosed with the illness.
Being diagnosed with breast cancer is not akin to getting a death sentence. A lot of people who were diagnosed with breast cancer have survived, especially if the illness was detected early.
(Read also “What She’s Truly Thinking: Cancer Survivor In Her 20s“)
A study published in the found that drinking alcohol raises your risk of getting cancer, including breast cancer. Breastcancer.org wrote: “Alcohol can increase levels of estrogen and other hormones associated with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.”
This article was first published in Cleo.