IATE Term of the Week: Breast Cancer

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IATE Breast cancer

October has been marked across the world as the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The symbol of this annual communication campaign is the pink ribbon, and this is the reason why October is also known as ‘Octobre Rose’ – ‘Pink October’. This annual international health campaign organized by leading Breast Cancer charities every year in October aims not only to raise awareness of the disease but also to raise the funds for research into the cause, the prevention, the treatment and cure of the disease.

‘Breast Cancer’ – which is the topic of October’s communication campaign – is the IATE term this week. According to the World Health Organization, ‘Breast Cancer’ is considered to be the most common type of cancer in women worldwide, both in developed and developing countries.

As a disease, ‘Breast Cancer’ has not been sufficiently researched in terms of its main causes of appearance. Therefore, the cornerstone of the control of ‘Breast Cancer’ remains the early detection of the disease. It has been proved by statistic research and studies of the World Health Organization that when breast cancer is detected early there is high possibility of its cure provided that adequate diagnosis and treatment are available. Late detection on the other hand appears to leave no options of cure.

IATE Term Breast Cancer
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Advanced technological medical appliances offer the ability of a mammography screening which is considered a highly effective detective practice of the disease. Even in low- and middle-income countries, where mammography is considered very costly, there are implementations of Breast Control programs launched by the World Health Organization. The BRCA (Breast Cancer) gene test is also a relatively new way of detection resulting from the progress in the advancements of the medical field. The BRCA gene test is a blood test which can determine the existence or non-existence of mutations in the DNA of a human. The existence of mutations if detected is considered a sign of increasing possibilities of the appearance of the disease.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation INC, all of us whether directly or indirectly affected by Breast Cancer, can contribute to the worldwide efforts held on an annual basis, especially in the month of October, so as to increase Breast Cancer awareness and control. Communication, screening, access and treatment, support and spread of hope are the most effective ways when dealing with a disease like breast cancer.

References

Le Point, ‘Octobre rose’: un mois d’initiatives contre le cancer du sein, [ONLINE], Available at https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/octobre-rose-un-mois-d-initiatives-contre-le-cancer-du-sein-28-09-2016-2071851_23.php, Accessed 22 October 2020

National Breast Cancer Foundation, INC, ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’, [ONLINE], https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month, Accessed 22 October 2020

World Health Organization, Cancer, [ONLINE], Available at https://www.who.int/health-topics/cancer#tab=tab_1 Accessed 22 October 2020


Maria Papamargariti pictureWritten by Maria Papamargariti, Greek and English Philologist, writer in the field of children’s literature.