The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IACR) devotes the entire month of October to breast cancer awareness. Encouraging all women to visit their doctor to get a check-up. Early detection might just save your life, even if no symptoms present themselves it is important to get examined just to be certain. According to 2018 data, the number of new breast cancer cases was approximately 2.1 million. It is the second-most common cancer and the most prevailing form of cancer in women. 

Breast cancer symptoms to keep a lookout for:

Changes in breast skin condition

Key things to watch are any changes in skin colour, particularly a change to redness. Any signs of swelling, itchiness or irritation. Another indicator can include any dimpling and appearance of “orange-peel” skin.

Pain

This is our body’s natural indicator that something is wrong, pain does not always point to breast cancer, as most breast cancers do not cause pain, but there are a few that do. It is still important to see a doctor if you are experiencing instances of pain. Any kind of breast or armpit pain should be seen to immediately.

Hardness or lumps

Swelling, hardness and lumps are probably the symptoms that we are most familiar with and taught to check for. Any breast lumps or masses need to be seen to by a doctor, before this stage there is no reason to panic, some breast lumps are completely normal. If you do have a breast lump that is hard, fixed and irregularly shaped, it may be a cause for concern.

Changes in the nipple

Nipples can often experience the most change and can be the most telling if cancer is present. Any nipple pain, colour change, peeling or discharge can be a symptom of breast cancer.

If you experience any of these symptoms before your annual check-up, we urge you to get examined as soon as possible. The procedure is painless and catching cancer in its early stages can severely decrease its mortality rate.

The lifetime risk for women to develop breast cancer is 1 in 8 women. Lifestyle plays a major role, with certain factors causing an increase in an individual’s chances of developing breast cancer. Drinking alcohol, weight gain, age, stress, can all increase our risk of cancer. Studies have shown that maintaining an active lifestyle can severely decrease your risk of cancer. Phyto-Force has a range of products to treat a variety of ailments. Herbs not only have a palliative effect but through their action on hormone function offer a positive contribution towards overcoming the condition. Have a look through our highly rated products that can help in this way. We recommend our PHYTO-FORCE GREEN TEA Camellia Sinensis, that is made with the finest quality green tea with cancer-fighting properties. Drinking up to 8 cups of Camellia Sinensis green tea gives the best results.