Breast cancer

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What is it?

Cancer of the breast 

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Symptoms

  • change in size or shape of breast(s) 
  •   discharge from papillum (s) 
  • rash or crusting around papillum (s)
  • pain in breast or armpit 
  • change in appearance of the papillum(s)
  •  rash on  or around armpit 
  •  dimpling of skin on the breast 
  • change in colour of breast 
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Causes

  • Age
  • Previous diagnosis of breast cancer
  • More dense breast tissue
  • Previous breast lump
  •  Family history of breast cancer
  • Particular genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2)
  •  Overweight
  • Being tall
  •  Exposure to radiation to the chest
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Physical impact

on the indivdual 

  • Hormone imbalance
  • Lack of interest in sex
  • Scarring 
  • Hair loss to chemotherapy 

on the family 

  • Strains from lifting the person up 
  • Feeling tired 
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Intellectual Impact

On the indivdual

  • Lacks concentration at work or school 
  •  Poor concertation 
  • Learn about Breast Cancer more

On the family 

  • Out of school or work 
  • Responsibilities change at home  
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Emotional impact

On the indivdual 

  • Confident about chances of beating it (95% caught early are cured but also depends on age)
  • Anxiety/sadness/anger/afraid
  • Depression

On the family

  • Stress 
  • Anxiety
  • Overwhelmed 
  • Angry  
  • Can cope with theses feeling,
  • may have to have support from counselling or a support group made by friends or people who are in the same position 
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Social impact

On the indivdual 

  • Affect relationship with partner/family/friends ( positive or negative)
  • Engage in health promotion activities related to breast cancer, e.g. Raising awareness
  • Impact on intimate relationships 

On the family 

  • Make you and the person who has the cancer close 
  • Put tension because of the change of responsibilities 
  • Put a strain on your relationship 
  • Won’t be able to do hobbies because of being tired 
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Financial Impact

on the indivdual 

  • May need to leave work
  • salary affected (e.g. goes onto statutory sick)
  • has to leave work and relies on benefits
  • Car parking charges

On the family 

  • May need to leave work to look after the person with the cancer 
  • Might be on sick pay 
  • Having to cope with using benefits to live 
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Treatments

  • Surgery (mastectomy or breast-Conserving) 
  • Radio therapy 
  • Chemotheraphy 
  • hormone Therapy 
  • Bilogical therapy 
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