Breast Cancer Awareness

By Shannon Flanagan

Breast cancer is a disease where cells grow in the breast. There are many kinds of breast cancer. It happens more to women, but sometimes it can happen to men too. A few symptoms for breast cancer are lumps in the breast, bloody discharge from the nipple, and changes in the shape or texture of the breast or the nipple. Treatment depends on the stage of cancer, you may need radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy. The seven signs of breast cancer are swollen lymph nodes under the arm or around the collarbone, swelling of all of part of the breast, skin irritation or dimpling, breast or nipple pain, nipple reaction, nipple discharge, and redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin. Breast cancer starts when the cells in the breast grow. They can grow too big and go into the surrounding tissue. Breast cancer awareness is to raise awareness and to stop the stigma of breast cancer through education on symptoms or treatment. Breast cancer awareness month is in October, which is this month. There is Susan G. Komen, which is the largest and best-funded organization in the United States. Komen focuses on patient navigation and advocacy, providing resources for breast cancer patients to understand the American medical system. It was founded by Nancy Brinker almost 40 years ago in Dallas, Texas. She named the organization after her sister, Susan, who died from breast cancer.