Friday, October 05, 2007 LH Prime advocates for early breast cancer detection
THERE is no illness that generally affects women more than breast cancer does.
Studies show that worldwide, breast cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death. In 2005 alone, it caused 502,000 deaths among women, statistics show.
The breast is a gland designed to make milk. It’s tragic then that the same source of nourishment becomes a cause of death.
This prompts health institutions, like LH Prime Medical Clinic, to campaign strongly against Breast Cancer especially during the Breast Cancer Month in October.
Among the risk factors leading to breast cancer, gender is the biggest because the illness occurs mostly in women. The risk also increases with age.
A 30-year-old woman has one chance in 280 of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years. This chance increases to one in 70 for a woman aged 40, and to one in 40 at age 50. A 60-year-old woman has a one in 30 chance of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years.
Family history has long been known to be a risk factor for breast cancer. Both maternal and paternal relatives are important. The risk is highest if the affected relative developed breast cancer at a young age, had cancer in both breasts, or if she is a close relative.
One’s lifestyle and diet can also be risk factors. Breast cancer seems to occur more frequently in countries with high dietary intake of fat, and being overweight or obese is a known risk factor for breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women.
Mostly, breast cancer is discovered before symptoms are present, either by finding an abnormality on mammography or feeling a breast lump. A lump in the armpit or above the collarbone that does not go away may be a sign of cancer. Other possible symptoms are breast discharge, nipple inversion, or changes in the skin overlying the breast.
Breast cancer develops over months or years. Once it is identified, however, a certain sense of urgency is felt about the treatment, because breast cancer is much more difficult to treat as it spreads.
This is where LH Prime comes in with its early detection tests as an effective approach to the problem.
To help as many women as possible, LH Prime will offer free consultation on breast care from Oct.1 – 6 and special discounted rates for Breast Ultrasound and Mammogram tests for the entire month of October.
LH Prime is a tertiary diagnostic clinic that offers a complete line of diagnostic and medical outpatient services. It is located along A.S Fortuna St., Banilad, Cebu City.
With its clean, spacious and comfortable atmosphere, and friendly and competent staff, and top quality facilities, LH Prime only has its customers’ welfare in mind.
For inquiry, send an email to customer_service@lhprime.com.
