health

Breast cancer is one of the most feared cancers for women, not
only because it is potentially fatal but also because it can lead to disfigurement
and worries about the loss of femininity. It can also develop
for a long time before obvious symptoms appear. One reason why periodic
screening for changes in breast tissue is so important for women
over the age of twenty is that breast cancer is highly treatable when
caught early.
In the early stages of breast cancer, a woman (or man) may not
notice any differences in the size and shape of the breasts. The most
noticeable symptom of breast cancer is a lump or thickened area in the
breast. Not all such lumps are cancerous; many women notice that the
texture of their breasts changes during pregnancy or their menstrual
periods. Lumps in the breast can also be caused by noncancerous cysts.
Nonetheless, a woman (or man) who notices a lump in the breast
should tell their doctor.