Australia's GDP rises 0.6% in June quarter: ABS    EFG Hermes raises TMG share price target to EGP 130    Egyptian pound ends week lower against US dollar – CBE    Egypt, Slovenia eye stronger economic ties amid regional challenges    Egypt's PM says $7.5bn Qatari investment package being activated    Egyptian FM holds high-level talks in Slovenia, urges EU pressure on Israel    Geopark in Fayoum tops agenda in Egypt-UNESCO environmental talks    Egypt expresses condolences to Sudan after deadly Darfur landslides    CI Capital Concludes EGP 1.3B Securitized Bond Issuance for Al-Tameer Leasing and Factoring (Al Oula)    Egypt PM at SCO summit: Israeli war in Gaza a 'war of starvation'    US, Egypt launch Bright Star 25 military exercises with participation from 40 nations    US ambassador celebrates Egypt's top Thanawaya Amma students, launches $50,000 training initiative    Egypt's Environment Minister leads key meeting to accelerate preparations for Barcelona Convention    Egypt hosts G20 meeting for 1st time outside member states    Lebanese Prime Minister visits Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Early detection of breast cancer saves lives
Published in Daily News Egypt on 10 - 11 - 2006

Simple steps can increase survival chances to 95 percent
"I discovered the lump in my breast by mere chance. I was in the shower and felt something under my hand. Three days after I discovered it, I was on the operating table [for a mastectomy], says Faiza Abdel Khalick, breast cancer survivor and co-founder of HOPE-Egypt, a non-profit organization that provides emotional support to women with breast cancer and that raises awareness of breast health issues.
Fifteen years later, Abdel Khalick is healthy and she credits that to the fact that she detected the cancer early and got it treated quickly.
Now that October, breast cancer awareness month, is over, we need to remember throughout the year that early detection of breast cancer saves lives. When breast cancer is confined to the breast, and has not spread to other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate is over 95 percent, according to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, based in the United States.
Early detection involves a simple three-step plan.
First, all women over the age of 20 should do a monthly breast self-exam in which they look at and feel their breasts for any changes. Breasts tend to be more lumpy and tender right before and during a woman's menstrual period, so it's good for a woman to know what is normal for her breasts at different times of the month, and the best time for a self-exam is right after the period is over.
Any of the following would be a reason to check with a doctor right away: a lump or thickening in the breast; a change in the breast's size and shape; dimpling of the skin; swelling, warmth or redness in the breast or armpit; a nipple that has a rash, discharge or is pulled in; or pain in one spot that does not go away.
"My advice to women would be: Don't wait. The minute you discover a change in your breast, take immediate action and see a doctor. [After you've seen a doctor], you must get a second opinion, says Abdel Khalick.
As the second step in early detection, the Komen Foundation recommends that women visit their doctor for a clinical breast exam at least once every three years beginning at age 20 and once a year beginning at age 40. During the clinical breast exam, the doctor looks at and feels the breast for any changes.
Thirdly, an annual mammogram, an x-ray of the breast, is important for women over the age of 40 because it often detects tumors that are too small to be felt by hand, even those as small as a grain of rice. Remember though, that a small number of breast cancers do not show up on a mammogram but can be felt by hand, so it's important to have a clinical breast exam every year as well.
The best time for a mammogram is after a woman's period, when her breasts are least likely to be tender, since her breasts will be pressed between two plates of the x-ray machine and this may be uncomfortable. It's also best to wear a two-piece outfit to make it easier to undress for the mammogram.
"The best thing would be to discover breast cancer early with routine [doctor's] check-ups, breast self-exams, and mammograms. This can save lives, says Abdel Khalick.
HOPE-Egypt is a nonprofit organization that provides information and emotional support to women with breast cancer as well as their families. The organization runs support groups for women with breast cancer, and their vision is to ensure that women and their families in Egypt don t face breast cancer alone by offering them hope and ways to cope. Hope is a grassroots effort whose mission is to offer breast health programs and service and to reduce the mortality rates and trauma resulting from late diagnosis of breast cancer in Egypt by facilitating women's access to accurate and comprehensive information about breast health. For more information go to www.hopegypt.org.eg


Clic here to read the story from its source.