Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in Bangladesh while in women it is the most common carcinoma, said the National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital report 2014.

According to the report, lung cancer is the most common one with 27.5 percent of the total male population and 6 percent of females suffering from it

Every year, 14,836 women contract breast cancer and 7,142 of them die, said Dr Habibullah Talukdar Raskin, coordinator of Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum, quoting the GLOBOCAN 2012 report.

Breast cancer also occurs in males at any age but very rarely, said Raskin.

Bangladesh Breast Cancer

Awareness Forum will observe Breast Cancer Awareness Day today by organising a press conference at Jatiya Press Club and running awareness campaigns in 30 districts and some upazilas.

SYMPTOMS

A lump in the breast, pain in the armpits or breast that does not seem to be related to the menstrual period, pitting or redness of the skin of the breast, a rash around or on the nipple, a swelling in the armpit, an area of thickened tissue in a breast, a discharge from the nipple sometimes with blood, change in the breast size and peeling, scaling or flaking of the nipple skin or breast skin, said Raskin.

RISK FACTORS

The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. Genetic causes are

another factor for harbouring breast cancer. Women with denser breast tissues and women who started having menstruation earlier or entered menopause later than usual due to oestrogen exposure are also likely to harbour breast cancer.

Post-menopausal obesity, overweight, unhealthy food habits, alcohol consumption, and a lack of physical activities are also some causes. Besides, women who do not have any child and who marry after 30 remain at risk, while avoiding breastfeeding is another reason.

DETECTION

Women who do not show any symptom but remain at risk should undergo screening for early detection. And if detected, physicians should be contacted immediately and followed religiously, said Raskin.