Iconic Music Video Director Diane Martel Dies of Breast Cancer at 63; How To Identify the Early Signs

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music video maker Diane Martel passed away due to breast cancer, her family has confirmed. “Diane passed away peacefully at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital – surrounded by friends and family – after a long battle with breast cancer," her family said in a statement via Rolling Stone. At 63, Diane had received her diagnosis last year and has been getting treated since then. Throughout her career, Diane, known for superhits ranging from Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You to Justin Timberlake’s Like I Love You and Beyoncé’s soaring Listen, has a portfolio that reads like a playlist of pop culture milestones. Diane directed iconic music videos that defined generations and became pop culture milestones.

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers that affect women and happens when cancerous cells in your breasts begin to multiply to become tumours. Doctors say more than 80 per cent of breast cancer cases are invasive, which means a tumour may spread from your breast to other areas of your body. Breast cancer typically affects women over the age of 50 years but can also strike those who are younger.

What causes breast cancer?

According to experts, breast cancer happens when cells in your breasts begin to mutate and become cancerous cells that divide and multiply to create tumours. While it is not known what triggers that change, there are many risk factors that can increase your chances, which include:

Age

Being 50 years or older

Sex

Women are much more likely to develop the condition than men.

Family history

If your parents, siblings, children, or other close relatives have breast cancer, you are at risk of developing the disease.

Genetics

Around 15 per cent of people with breast cancer develop the disease because they have inherited genetic mutations.

Smoking

Tobacco use has been linked to many different types of cancer, including breast cancer.

Alcohol

Studies say that drinking beverages containing alcohol may increase breast cancer risk.

Obesity

Obese and overweight women are also more prone to breast cancer.

Hormone replacement therapy

Women who use hormone replacement therapy have a higher risk of being diagnosed with the condition.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer

Doctors say the condition can affect your breasts in different ways. Some breast cancer symptoms are very distinctive, while others may simply seem like areas of your breast that look very different from any other area. Breast cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms either, while some signs may include:

• A change in the size, shape, or contour of your breast
• A mass or lump that feels as small as a pea.
• A lump or thickening in or near your breast or in your underarm that persists through your menstrual cycle
• A change in the look or feel of your skin on your breast or nipple
• A marble-like hardened area under your skin
• A blood-stained or clear fluid discharge from your nipple