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What is breast cancer? |
Death & illness
Breast cancer is a kind of cancer that specifically starts in the tissue of the breast. Cancer is what happens when some of the cells in a person’s body start to grow too quickly and without constraint. If left unchecked, cancer cells can spread and damage other parts of the body that we need to live.
Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer that women get. About one out of every eight women will get breast cancer at some point in her life. Most women who get breast cancer develop it later in life as grownups. It does happen to younger women, but the chances of getting breast cancer are much higher in women who are more than 60 years old. Men can get breast cancer, too, but it is very, very rare.
Breast cancer can be really scary because it can kill people. However, if the doctor can spot the cancer before it gets too big, there are very good treatments for it. That is why women older than 40 should get a mammogram every year or two. A mammogram is an x-ray test that can help doctors see cancer even when it’s really small.
If someone does have breast cancer, there are surgeries that may remove the cancer and drugs that can help kill the bad cells. Many people survive breast cancer and lead long, healthy lives afterwards.
Remember, if you know someone who has cancer, you cannot catch it from her or him. Cancer happens after the genes in the DNA of a cell get damaged. Some people inherit damaged genes that they are born with. In other people, it’s not clear what causes the damage. Still, you can’t get cancer from hugging, playing or spending time with someone with cancer.
Cancer can make people feel really sick and tired, so it may be difficult for them to play games and do very active things with you. If someone you know has cancer, there are lots of ways to spend time together and show how much you love them, without demanding too much energy from the person.
You can:
-read a book out loud
-put on a play or act out a story
-help with chores
If you feel scared or worried about cancer, talk to a grown-up about it. Do you feel confused? Angry? Lonely? Talking about our fears can help us feel better. If someone you know has cancer, you might want to ask a grown-up to help find a support group for families and friends of people with cancer. By sharing experiences with people who are going through similar things, you can find the support and courage you need to be a good friend.
