Early last week, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, star of Veep and formerly of Seinfeld, posted this tweet:
Just when you thought... pic.twitter.com/SbtYChwiEj
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@OfficialJLD) September 28, 2017
As shocking as it was to have a celebrity announce her battle with the disease, it isn't nearly as uncommon as some may think. In the US alone each year, over 250,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. It claims the life of a woman on average every 13 minutes, and this year it is estimated that it will kill over 40,000 women in the US . But what causes this type of cancer, and how can one be more aware of the signs?
Breast cancer starts as a group of cells that begin growing abnormally and wildly. This group of cells forms a tumor, a swelling or "lump", on or inside the breast. This tumor can be benign, or basically harmless, or malignant, where the cells in the tumor grow into the area around it or spread to other places in the body. Most breast cancers start in the ducts that carry milk or in the glands that produce milk.
These cancers can be easy to detect, or they may only be detectable on a screening or mammogram. Symptoms range mostly physical, like swelling of the breast, dimpling of the skin, nipple inversion and nipple discharge. Many of those symptoms can be attributed to other issues and diseases, but no matter what timing is key. It is important to be tested regularly