The Collective Preventive Services (CPS) is calling on the Sint Maarten community to support and get involved in Breast Cancer Awareness activities for the month of October.
The health survey of 1999: "How Healthy is St. Maarten", revealed that for self-examination of the breast, a preventive action against Breast Cancer, 89% knew about the test and 57% did the test, while only 27% had done the test with the recommended frequency of once a month.
Regular breast self-exams can help women learn how their breast normally feels and make it easier for the women to notice and find any changes in their breasts. Remember doing a breast self-exam regularly is not a substitute for regular mammograms and consultations with your general practitioner.
CPS is encouraging women to make breast cancer screening a regular part of their life.
Breast Cancer is linked to the uncontrollable division or growing of cells. Cells in the body normally divide (reproduce) only when new cells are needed. Sometimes, cells in a part of the body grow and divide out of control, which creates a mass of tissue called a tumor. If cells that are growing out of control are normal cells, the tumor is called benign (not cancerous) If however the cells that are growing out of control are abnormal and don’t function like the body’s normal cells, the tumor is called malignant (cancerous).
Cancers are named after the part of body from which they originate. Breast cancer originates in the breast tissue. Breast cancer refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are milk-producing glands, or the ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple.
Like other cancers breast cancer can invade and grow into the tissue surrounding the breast. It can also travel to other parts of the body and form new tumors, a process called metastasis.
At present there is no known cause on what causes breast cancer; however there are certain risks factors, which may put individuals at higher, risk of developing breast cancer, e.g. person’s age, genetic factors, personal health history and diet.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer and is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 35-54. Breast cancer can also be diagnosed in the male gender even though very rare.
It is necessary for each female to make room in her schedule for regular self breast examination, medical consultation and routine mammograms! Check the tatas regularly!