What we can learn about cancer

The month of October was the month of cancer awareness but it is never too late to talk about this malignant disease. It is very important to inform and educate Garifuna community about this illness. Breast cancer is one most common illness amount women. Please I would like you to share this information with your mother, sister, daughter wife and friends. Having some knowledge about cancer will help us save some life.

What Is Cancer?

Cancer is the general name for a group of more than 100 diseases in which cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because abnormal cells grow out of control. Untreated cancers can cause serious illness and even death

How cancer starts

Cancer starts when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.

What are signs and symptoms?

A sign is also a signal that something is not right in the body. But signs are signals that can be seen by someone else -- maybe a loved one, or a doctor, nurse, or other health care professional. Fever, fast breathing, and abnormal lung sounds heard through a stethoscope may be signs of pneumonia.

A symptom is a signal of disease, illness, injury, or that something is not right in the body. Symptoms are felt or noticed by the person who has them, but may not be easily seen by anyone else. For example, weakness, aches, and feeling short of breath may be symptoms of pneumonia.

Having one sign or symptom may not be enough to figure out what's causing it. For example, a rash in a child could be a sign of a number of things, such as poison ivy, measles, a skin infection, or a food allergy. But if the child has the rash along with other signs and symptoms like a high fever, chills, achiness, and a sore throat, then a doctor can get a better picture of the illness. Sometimes, a patient's signs and symptoms still don't give the doctor enough clues to figure out the cause of an illness. Then medical tests, such as x-rays, blood tests, or a biopsy may be needed.

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too.

Mammograms Matter

Getting a mammogram is one of the best things a woman can do to protect her health. This simple test can find breast cancers early, when they're smaller, easier to treat, and chances of survival are higher

If you're 40 or older, you should get a mammogram every year.

Next are Mammogram center links

New York:

http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/mammography/mammogram_ny/New_York.html

Los Angeles California:

http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/mammography/mammogram_ca/Los_Angeles.html

Guatemala:

http://www.multimedicaonline.com/index.php?option=com_qpersonel&task=qpListele&katid=54&lang=es

Honduras:

http://globalgeopolitics.net/wordpress/2010/10/14/health-honduras-solidarity-in-breast-cancer-survival/

Belize:

http://www.guidetobelize.info/en/yellow-pages/belize-health-care-medical-current-guide.shtml

If you like more informatinon about cancer please click on the link

http://www.cancer.org/