Nowadays, women need to be aware and start to open our minds about breast cancer. As October is known to be the breast cancer awareness month, here a few facts on how you can understand more about it. This is because, this disease will not only affect ourselves, but also impact our family as a whole. Although the various parties are actively doing campaign day-to-day to deliver the facts about breast cancer, but, if we do not take the initiative to educate ourselves, these efforts will be useless.

Breast Cancer In Malaysia

Breast cancer is the leading causes of death among women in Malaysia. The percentage of breast cancer patients is 31% compared to other cancers. Breast cancer is common in women and only 1% of males getting this cancer. Nearly 3, 500 breast cancer cases are detected every year. Breast cancer is a major cancer among women in Malaysia and followed by cervical cancer. About 1 in 20 women are at risk for breast cancer.

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a type of disease in which there are malignant cells in breast tissue. The cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. Breast cancer can start from various parts of the breast. Most breast cancers start from the ducts that carry milk to the nipple (ductal cancers)  and in the glands that make breast milk (lobular cancers). A small amount of cancer begins in other tissues in the breast. These cancers are called sarcomas and lymphomas and are not necessarily considered breast cancer. It is also important to understand that most breast lumps are benign and not cancerous or malignant. However, some benign breast lumps can increase the risk of getting breast cancer. While many types of breast cancer can cause a lump in the breast , not all do.

Breast cancer can spread when cancer cells enter the blood or lymph system and are transported to other parts of the body. When these cells spread to the rest of the body, new tumors can occur in the organ. This condition of cancer is known as secondary cancer or metastasis. It is estimated that over 35% of breast cancer may have spread or metastatic when it was detected.

Therefore, any bump or breast changes should be checked by a healthcare professional to determine whether it is benign or malignant and will it affect our future cancer risk. So, always be aware of our physical condition and see a doctor immediately for advice and treatment.

To show our support for the month, wear a pink ribbon and attend any Pinktober events held in your area. If you’re looking for a pink outfit to show your support, visit Zalora Malaysia now!