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Do
more women than men die of cancer?
No.
The misconception that cancer is primarily a woman's disease is due to
the frequency of cancer of the breast and cancer of the reproductive
organs in women, in comparison with the more varied occurrence of cancer
in men. Cancer in men often occurs in the less accessible areas of the
body and is sometimes more difficult to diagnose and treat than cancer
in women.
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Does cancer occur more frequently among married
or unmarried women?
Reports from death certificates show that above
the age of 40, the cancer death rate is higher among single women than
among married women of the same ages. Single women have higher death
rates from cancer of the breast and married women have more cancer of
the uterus. Physicians believe that having the first child around the
age of 20 is a preventive against cancer of the breast and that injury
at childbirth or having multiple sexual partners increases the risk of
cancer of the uterus.
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Is
there danger in watching a lump in the breast to see what happens?
Yes,
a very grave danger. Time is the most important factor in the control of
cancer and waiting to "see what happens" may permit a curable
cancer to become incurable by preventing it to spread to other tissues.
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Are
all breast lumps cancerous?
No,
only a small percentage of lumps are cancerous. A careful pathological
examination of the excised lump can definitely determine if it is due to
cancer.
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What
precautions should be taken to avoid cancer of the breast?
Do
not wear garments that press the breast tissue tightly against the chest
wall. Every woman should have her breasts examined semiannually by a
physician. She should request her physician to instruct her in the
proper technique for examining her own breasts
in the erect and reclining positions and should examine her breasts once
a month shortly after her "period".
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How
should you examine your breasts?
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Sit or stand in front of a mirror, with your arms relaxed at your sides,
and examine your breasts carefully for any changes in size and shape.
Look for any puckering or dimpling of the skin, and for any discharge or
change in the nipples. Compare one breast with the other.
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Raise both your arms over your head, and look for exactly the same
changes. See if there's been any change since you last examined your
breasts.
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Note :From Step 3 to Step 8, you should feel for a lump or thickening in
the breast tissues.Lie down on your bed, or on the floor, put a pillow
or a bath towel under your left shoulder, and place your left hand under
your head. With the fingers of your right hand held together flat, press
gently but firmly with small circular motions to feel the inner, upper
quarter of your left breast, starting at your breastbone and going
outward toward the nipple line. Also feel the area around the nipple.
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With the same gentle pressure next feel the lower, inner parts of your
breast.
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Now bring your left arm down to your side, and still using the flat part
of your fingers, feel under your armpit.
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Use the same gentle pressure to feel the upper, outer quarter of your
breast from the nipple line to where your arm is resting.
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And finally, feel the lower, outer section of your breast, proceeding
from the outer part to the nipple.
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Repent the entire procedure, from Step 3 as described above, for the
right breast.
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What
precautions should be taken to avoid cancer of the uterus (womb)?
Have
all birth injuries repaired soon after they occur. Have all unnatural
vaginal discharges investigated. Up
to the age of thirty-five have an annual
examination;
thereafter a semi-annual one. Bleeding after the change
of life calls for a physician's examination at once. Avoid multiple sex
partners.
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Do
uterine fibroids ever become
cancerous?
Fibroid
tumors only very rarely undergo malignant
change.
