Breast Cancer: One Disease and Many

In addition to a mass in the breast, women should look out for veins becoming more prominent on the breast, a discharge from the nipple, changes in the skin of the breast or nipple, soreness, itchiness or pain in the breast and an increase in the size or a lowering of one breast. Everyone can become engrossed in work, family, and various to- do lists, but it is vital that women are aware of their bodies and report any and all strange symptoms around the breast to their doctor.

Ilaria’s case is a prime example of how finding breast cancer early makes treatment much easier and more effective. Certain breast cancers establish themselves in the body and rapidly draw nourishment from healthy cells to grow quickly. Once diagnosed, it is imperative that women obtain as much information as possible about their cancer. Doctors should run tests to determine exactly what type of breast cancer they are fighting. For some types of breast cancer, specialised treatments exist and personalised treatment gives women the best chance for life.

Ilaria may have felt shocked, scared, and overwhelmed by her diagnosis, but she quickly learned about the type of breast cancer she was facing to ensure she that received the right treatment.

Today Ilaria is doing well and there is much to learn from her experience. Breast cancer does not follow a set pattern and the disease can easily go unnoticed or ignored. Be aware of your body, check yourself, and stay informed so that you are equipped to confront this horrible disease if necessary.

Breast Cancer is not a death sentence and after successful treatment, many women report a new outlook on life. Ilaria recently wrote in her diary, “Life is a truly unpredictable force. I don’t feel invisible anymore. I feel like I’m a new person, finding my way of being, and I am determined to ‘be’ for a long time yet!”

For more information about diagnosis and different types of breast cancer, visit one of these breast cancer organizations’ Web sites:

Y-ME,Susan G. Komen Foundation, The Young Survival Coalition, Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation

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The Breast Friends Programme, which encourages breast cancer patients to take a friend or family member to medical appointments, suggests the following tips and checklist of questions upon diagnosis:

TIPS: * Try not to panic—give yourself time to understand your cancer and available treatments * Open communication with your doctor leads to better results in the treatment of breast cancer * Have a close friend or family member with you at medical appointments who will help you remember and understand what your doctor says * Gather all the information you can to gain a thorough understanding of your breast cancer * Collate all your information and keep all your paperwork so that you can refer back and make a list of anything you aren’t clear about

QUESTIONS: * What stage is my breast cancer? *