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science, health & technology Also
in this section: The campaign against breast cancer Asia's threatened tropical forests
An attempt to save lives photos by Eric Jackson Here we see a couple of the government buildings around Plaza Porras, the Casa de la Gobernacion above and the Procuradoria below, decorated with the pink ribbon symbol. The pink ribbon stands for the fight against breast cancer, a major cause of death for women in Panama and worldwide. A woman's chances of getting breast cancer are determined by a complex set of known and unknown factors, with higher-risk individuals ever more identifiable by factors like an inherited predisposition to get it or lifestyle issues like smoking. However, it also strikes many a woman with no known risk factor. Death from breast
cancer is another matter, and is the principal subject of the ongoing
campaign.
If it is detected early, breast cancer can be successfully treated in most cases, giving the patient many years of quality life. Its early detection is generally done by mammograms and self-examination of the breasts in search of lumps that shouldn't be there. Increased awareness that leads to women getting regular mammograms and paying closer attention to what's happening with their bodies will cut the rate of breast cancer deaths, even if it doesn't reduce the incidence of the disease itself. There are social
and psychological issues in play as well. If radical surgery
that removes a woman's breast or breasts is required, the emotional
trauma can be devastating and sometimes in itself deadly. Advances in
breast reconstruction surgery and prostheses help a bit on this front,
but the support and understanding of families, friends and in
particular the men in breast cancer patients' lives is another of the
keys to survival.
Also in this
section: The campaign against breast cancer Asia's threatened tropical forests
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