Question

About one page, how would you educate an older woman about breast cancer? Include the signs and risk factors that she needs to know.

Answer 1

We can educate an older woman about breast cancer by telling her the signs and symptoms of the disease (Mayo Clinic);

A breast lump or thickening feeling different from the tissue that is surrounding

Changes in the barest that includes; size, shape or appearance

Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling

Inverting of the nipple

Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin that surrounds the nipple or skin of the breast

Redness or pitting of the skin over the breast,

The increased risk factors for breast cancer include:

Being of the female gender as women have a higher risk than men to develop breast cancer.

Increasing age as the risk of breast cancer increases as we age.

A family history of breast cancer if someone has people in the family who are suffering from the disease the risk increase

Inherited genes increase cancer risk.

Radiation exposure; if we have received radiation treatments to our chest as a child or young adult, our risk of breast cancer is increased.

Obesity being obese increases our risk of breast cancer.

Beginning of the period at a younger age

Beginning menopause at an older age

Having the first child at an older age after age 30 may have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Having never been pregnant. Women who have never been pregnant have a greater risk of breast cancer than do women who have had one or more pregnancies.

Postmenopausal hormone therapy. Women who take hormone therapy medications that combine estrogen and progesterone to treat the signs and symptoms of menopause have an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer decreases when women stop taking these medications.

Drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer