Remembering that this principle is particularly true in oncology, we have designed this guide to give knowledge and early detection of female cancers, in hopes of helping women to take care of themselves with increasing awareness.
Female cancers, which affect the reproductive organs and breasts, are among the most popular and feared. In many cases, however, they may be prevented or diagnosed in any case early, as long as women are constant in the recommended screening.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is very common:it affects one in 10 women and is the most common tumor in women (men too will be affected, but with significantly lower incidence).
We identified several risk factors, some modifiable, such as lifestyle, others do not, such as age (the majority of breast cancer affects women over 40 years) and genetic-constitutional factors. Among the harmful lifestyles can be cited, for example, a diet rich in animal fats and low in fruits and vegetables, smoking and a sedentary life is particularly: bad habits that may be changed without too much sacrifice to get excellent results .
There are some factors that may influence the reproductive life the risk of breast cancer: a short fertile period (late first menstruation and early menopause) and a pregnancy at a young age are protective, as well as breastfeeding for over a year.
About 10% of breast cancer is hereditary or is due to the presence of certain DNA mutations in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2.
The prevention of breast cancer should begin early with self-examination performed regularly every month as early as the age of 20 and continue with annual inspections of the breast performed by a oncologist or a specialist breast specialist with the annual mammogram after age of 50, but only if necessary, in young women.
Clinical breast examination
The clinical breast examination is complete clinical breast examination by a physician. It is a simple and painless method that is performed in the doctor's office without the aid of special tools. This type of assessment alone is not usually sufficient to make an accurate diagnosis, but it can definitely be helpful to clarify some situations that are suspicious and unclear.
Before beginning the actual examination of the breasts, the breast specialist deals with the history, like the collection of information that may be useful to formulate the final diagnosis: presence of cases of breast cancer in the family, age of onset of first menstrual cycle and menopause, pregnancy, diet, hormonal therapy (oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy in menopause, etc.).
Only after completing this stage you may proceed with the clinical examination itself that starts and ends with the observation by palpation: the doctor in practice makes all those gestures that every woman should do monthly during self examination.
Younger women do not need to have regular visits from the breast specialist, but they just need a regular breast self-examination (once a month between the seventh and fourteenth day of the cycle) and contact your doctor and gynecologist for controls.
In case of doubt it is the general practitioner or gynecologist to recommend a specialist clinical breast examination during which, thanks also to other tests such as ultrasound, it is possible to distinguish between benign and malignant diseases of the breast, and set the most appropriate therapy, if necessary.
After the age of 40, the annual visit is strongly recommended, but after 45-50 mammography is also required.
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Laboratory Tests
For early detection of breast cancer women have very effective tools, first of all mammography, ultrasound or joined by others such as magnetic resonance imaging. Prevention is crucial because even very small to identify a tumor greatly increases the chance of effective treatment in a definitive way, but it is important to choose the most suitable instrument.
Between 20 and 40 years are not generally provided for special tests, if not an annual visit to the gynecologist or breast specialist physician. Only in special situations, eg in the case of familiarity and discovery of nodules, it is possible to deepen the analysis with an ultrasound or a biopsy (FNA) of suspicious nodules. Mammography is not recommended because the structure is too dense breast tissue in this age group would make the results unclear. Between 40 and 50 women with a family situation at risk for breast cancer, ie, mothers or sisters, should begin to get mammograms every year, preferably associated with ultrasound because of the structure still dense breast . Between 50 and 60 years, the risk of developing breast cancer is quite high and consequently the women in this age group should undergo mammography every year control. Finally, after 60 years, cancer prevention is important and, in the case of breast cancer, it is even more, since between 50 and 70 years the risk of developing this cancer reaches its maximum. Experts recommend a mammogram every two years until at least 75 years because the average life expectancy has lengthened, and you can get good therapeutic results in elderly patients.
In women with positive genetic test for BRCA1 or 2 is shown a sonogram and a resonant semi-annually, even at a young age.
Although mammography remains a very effective tool for early detection of breast cancer, today there are also other diagnostic techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (still limited to selected cases), PEM (positron emission tomography - PET - specific for breasts) and a new test called the Pap test have breast that is the introduction of fluid in the ducts (the channels through which passes the milk) and the subsequent collection of this fluid that carries with it certain cells . With the microscope is possible to identify which of the precancerous cells spill has features allowing very early diagnosis of breast cancer.
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Lifestyles
Periodic check-ups are important for cancer prevention, but also a healthy lifestyle helps to dramatically reduce the risk of getting sick. In particular, it is estimated that adopting healthy habits can prevent onset of cancer.
The rules to be adopted to achieve this important goal of prevention are simple and are basically diet, exercise habits and so-called luxuries, those habits that give pleasure, but are dangerous to health as smoking or excessive consumption of alcohol. It does not take much effort: just put a little 'attention to what you eat and try not to lead a sedentary lifestyle. Weight maintenance is not only an aesthetic but also and above all a choice of health against the onset of many cancers.
For example, a good way to reduce the risk of cancer is to follow the traditional Mediterranean diet. And do not forget that proper nutrition is also the basis for the prevention of cardiovascular disease . In addition to the quality of the food we eat is also important in the amount not to exceed the calories that have to be calculated based on age, weight, type of activity and several other personal settings.
With regard to physical activity you should not be an athlete to prevent cancer: the best advice is to exercise for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity a day and for at least five days a week. Such activities may include, for example, a walk in the park or the choice to move by bike and by car.
You should also pay attention to some seemingly innocuous behavior, but actually dangerous, such as excessive exposure to sun, as well as accelerating the aging of the skin, can cause malignant tumors of the skin. This does not mean giving up the sun, but exposure in moderation and with proper protection.
Finally, in the case of smoking and alcohol, the data speak for themselves with regard to cancer: who smoke increase their risk of cancer of the lung, mouth and bladder, as well as influence all oncological diseases, while the excessive consumption of alcohol is carcinogenic to the mouth, esophagus and stomach.
These simple general rules apply, with some appropriate changes, to all ages.
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