Sehn-Gam Clinic for Africa

08/01/2022

What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. There are different kinds of breast cancer. The kind of breast cancer depend on which cells in the breast turn into cancer.
It can begin in different part of the breast. A breast is made up of three main parts : lobules, ducts and connective tissue. The lobules are the glands that produce milk. The ducts are tubes that carry milk to the ni**le. The connective tissue ( which consist of fibrous and fatty tissue) surrounds and holds everything together. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts or lobules.
Breast cancer cancer can spread outside the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels. When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is said to have metastasized.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

Different people have different symptoms of breast cancer. Some people do not have any signs or symptoms at all.
Some warning signs of breast cancer are:

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
• Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
• Redness or flaky skin in the ni**le area or the breast.
• Pulling in of the ni**le or pain in the ni**le area
• Ni**le discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
• Any change in the size or the shape of the breast .
• Pain in any area of the breast.

Keep in mine that these symptoms can happen with other conditions that are not cancer .
Note: if you have any sign or symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away .

What is a normal breast ?
No breast is typical . What is normal for you may not be normal for another woman. Most women say their breasts feel lumpy or uneven . The way your breasts look and feel can be affected by getting your period, having children, losing or gaining weight, and taking certain medications. Breasts also tend to change as you age .

What do Lumps in my breast mean?

Many conditions can cause lumps in the breast , including cancer. But most breast lumps are caused by other medical conditions. The two most common causes of breast lumps are fibrocystic breast condition and cysts. Fibrocystic condition causes noncancerous changes in the breast that can make them lumpy, tender and sore.
Cysts are small fluid -filled sacs that can develop in the breast.

What Are The Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?

Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to a combination of factors. The main factors that influence your risk include being a woman and getting older. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older.
Some women will get breast cancer even without any other risk factors that they know of. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get the disease, and not all risk factors have the same effect. Most women have some risk factors but they do not get breast cancer.
If you have breast cancer risk factors talk with your doctor about ways you can lower your risk and about screening for breast cancer.

Risk factors you cannot change include:
1. Getting older, the risk for breast cancers increases with age, most of them are diagnosed after 50years
2. Genetic mutations, Inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes , such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 . Women who have inherited these genetic changes are at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
3. Reproductive history, Early menstrual periods before age 12 and starting menopause after 55 expose women to hormones longer, raising their risk of getting breast cancer.
4. Having dense breasts. Dense breasts have have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, which can sometimes make it hard to see tumor on a mammogram. They are more likely to get breast cancer.
5. Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
6. Previous history using radiation therapy: women who had radiation therapy to the chest or breast ( for instance treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma ) before the age of 30 have a higher risk of getting breast cancer later in life.

Risk factors you can change
1. Not being physically active. Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
2.Being overweight or obese after menopause, these women have higher risk of getting breast cancer than those at a normal weight.
3. Reproductive history: Having the first pregnancy after age 30, not breastfeeding and never having full term pregnancy can raise breast cancer risk.
4 Drinking Alcohol: studies show that a woman’s risk for breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she drinks.

What Can I Do to Reduce my Risk of Breast Cancer ?

Many factors over the course of a lifetime influence your breast cancer risk. You can’t change some factors but others you can by taking care of your health in the following ways:
• keep a healthy weight
• Exercise regularly
• Don’t drink alcohol or limit alcoholic drinks
•If you are taking or have been told to take , hormones replacement therapy or oral contraceptives (birth control pills) , ask your doctor about the risks and find out if it is right for you.
• Breastfeeding your children , if possible
Note: staying healthy throughout your life will lower your risk of developing cancer and improve your chances of surviving cancer if it occurs.

Part two will follow soon!!

24/11/2021

SEHN-GAM Clinic for Africa...

24/11/2021

What you should know about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
What is Sickle Cell Disease ?
Sickle Cell Disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders.
* Healthy red blood cells are round and they move through small blood vessels carrying oxygen to all parts of the body.
* In SCD , the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a ‘’ sickle “.
* Sickle cells die early , which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells.
* Sickle cells can get stuck in small blood vessels and block the flow of blood and oxygen to organs in the body . These blockages cause repeated episodes of severe pain , organ damage , serious infections or even stroke.

What Causes Sickle Cell Disease?
SCD is inherited in the same way that people get the color of their eyes , skin and hair .
* A person with SCD is born with it
* People cannot catch SCD from being around a person who has it.

Sickle Cell Disease affects millions of people throughout the world and is particularly common among those whose ancestors come from sub Saharan Africa; regions in the Western Hemisphere, Saudi Arabia, India and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey , Greece and Italy.

What Health problems Does Sickle Cell Disease Cause?

Following are some of the most common complications of SCD:
“Pain Episode “ or “Crisis”: Sickle Cells don’t move easily through small blood vessels and can get stuck and clog blood flow. This causes pain that can start suddenly, be mild to severe , and last for any length of time.

Infection: People with SCD , especially infants and children are more likely to experience harmful infections such as flu, meningitis and hepatitis.

Hand-Foot Syndrome: Swelling in the hands and feet , often along with fever, is caused by the sickle Cells getting stuck in the blood vessels and blocking the blood from flowing freely through the hands and feet.

Eye Disease: SCD can affect the blood vessels in the eye and lead to long term damage.

Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS) : Blockage of the flow of blood to the lungs can cause acute chest syndrome. ACS is similar to pneumonia, symptoms include chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing and fever. It can be life threatening and should be treated in a hospital.

Stroke: Sickle cells can clog blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke. A stroke can result in lifelong disabilities and learning problems.

How is Sickle Cell Disease Treated?

The goals of treating SCD are to relieve pain and to prevent infections, eye damage, and strokes.

* There is no single best treatment for all people with SCD . Treatment options are different for each person depending on the symptoms. Treatment can include receiving blood transfusions, maintaining a high fluid intake (drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water each day), receiving Intravenous therapy (fluids given into a vein) and medications to help with pain.

* For severe SCD , a medication call hydroxyurea might be recommended. Research suggests that hydroxyurea can reduce the number of painful episodes and the recurrence of ACS . It also can reduce hospital stays and need for blood transfusions among adults who have SCD.

Is there a Cure for Sickle Cell Disease?
* A bone marrow or stem cell transplant is a procedure that takes healthy stem cells from a donor and puts them into someone whose bone marrow is not working properly. These healthy stem cells cause the bone marrow to make new healthy cell.

* Bone marrow or stem cell transplants are very risky and can have serious side effects including death. For the transplant to work, the bone marrow must be a close match.

23/11/2021

Health Education is a key component in any given society. We shall be given you what you need to know about the common health conditions affecting our lives and offer solutions in addressing them . Follow our page for daily updates, answers will be available to your questions as well.

23/11/2021

23/11/2021

23/11/2021

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23/11/2021

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