Dr. Henry Laryea, a specialist obstetrician/gynecologist, has said that breast-feeding a baby lowers the chance of breast cancer development. He said that continuing to feed over the advised six months could offer further protection. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Dr. Laryea, who was speaking in Accra on Wednesday when approached for information, noted that hormonal changes during breastfeeding lowered the lifetime exposure of the breast to hormones like estrogens, which encourage cancer cell growth. Male breast sucking, he said, may aid in the early detection of breast cancer but did not lower the incidence of breast cancer.
The obstetrician emphasized that lifestyle modifications might lower the chance of acquiring breast cancer even if it cannot be completely prevented because the reason is unknown. Keeping a healthy weight, selecting a good diet, avoiding smoking, consuming alcohol in moderation or not at all, and restricting the use of post-menopausal hormone replacement treatment were some of the lifestyle adjustments he highlighted. Contrary to popular opinion, males can also get breast cancer, but there are very few incidences of it among men, according to Dr. Laryea. Regarding additional myths, Dr. Laryea stated that neither the wearing of brassieres nor the placement of things in brassieres that come into touch with the breast, such as money, had been discovered to cause breast cancer.
However, he said that “by their chemical composition and microbiological organisms, they may produce inflammatory changes on the breast. These inflammatory alterations must be distinguished from Inflammatory Breast Cancer, a rare and severe subtype of breast cancer. Therefore, a person’s genetic makeup and environment are likely to interact in a complicated way to develop breast cancer. He noted that the most common cause of mortality for women between the ages of 35 and 54 is breast cancer, which frequently affects women over the age of 50. The obstetrician explained that cancer cells penetrate and kill nearby breast tissues in addition to spreading through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to distant organs including the liver and lungs.
An Early Warning
According to Dr. Laryea, “clinically, early symptoms of breast cancer may manifest as a little palpable lump or thickening in the breast or underarm that was not there previously and persists during the menstrual cycle. Other symptoms may include changes to the breast’s skin (dimpled, scaly, inflammatory, or pitting skin that resembles orange skin), changes to the breast’s size, shape, or contour, and blood-colored or clear fluid flow from the nipple. “A breast tumor seldom exhibits discomfort. Some individuals might not see any signs at all. Only a mammography can detect it, he noted. Early identification of breast cancer, according to Dr. Laryea, is crucial to post-treatment survival rates and quality of life.
Early identification of breast cancer can be accomplished by regularly self-examining the breasts beginning at age 20 and enabling a male partner to fondle and lick the spouse’s breasts. A healthcare professional should also check the breasts at least once every three years after the age of 20, and then annually beyond the age of 40. Additionally, he advised getting a baseline mammogram at age 35 and a screening mammography every year after age 40. He suggested that any breast changes be reported to the hospital right away.
Tests and Medical Care
According to Dr. Laryea, the healthcare professional would order the following particular studies following the history and physical examination: Mammography, breast MRIs, and ultrasound scans. A worrisome breast tissue sample may be removed for pathological analysis via biopsy. The obstetrician/gynecologist spoke about treatment choices, saying they can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy depending on the patient’s particular needs. The glandular milk-secreting cells and the milk ducts are the primary sources of breast cancer development. It happens when the breast’s cells quickly divide and develop to form a mass of tissue known as a tumor. During a breast check, the tip of the fingers might feel this tumor.
