2023-10-29 22:30:18
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the most common cause of cancer death in women worldwide. It is a disease in which abnormal breast cells multiply uncontrollably and form tumors that, if left untreated, can spread throughout the body and cause death. (WHO)
According to the Pan American Health Organization, the prognosis following a breast cancer diagnosis has improved in high-income countries, which have had a 40% decrease in breast cancer mortality (age-standardized) among 1980 and 2020, following the introduction of early detection programs and standardized treatment protocols. The disease burden of breast cancer is disproportionately greater in developing countries, where the majority of breast cancer deaths occur prematurely, in women under 70 years of age.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide, and 685,000 died from the disease. At the end of the same year, 7.8 million women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous five years were still alive, making this cancer the most prevalent cancer in the world. Breast cancer affects women of any age following puberty in all countries of the world, but rates are higher among adult women.
Prevention
In this regard, Dr. Angelina Álvarez, radiotherapist and coordinator of the Cancer Institute of the Serena del Mar Hospital in Cartagena, highlighted that it is important to keep in mind that breast cancer is a disease that not only occurs in older women, but can also be present in young women and men. This added to the fact that, if detected in time, it is curable with a probability close to 98%. Therefore, it is important to know all the screening strategies that are available today to perform early detection for the prevention of breast cancer.
“There are some factors that will help us reduce the probability of developing this disease, such as exercising at least 30 minutes a day for six days a week. The second thing is to follow or have a healthy diet, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. vegetables, low in fat, low in sugar in order to have a healthy weight. The third thing is not to smoke, fourth, limit alcohol consumption and fifth, limit the duration of hormonal replacement therapies,” he explained.
The radiotherapist at the Serena del Mar Hospital in Cartagena indicated that there are three key screening strategies, which will help reduce the probability of presenting this disease.
“The first thing is the self-examination, which must be carried out once a month from the age of 20. The second is the assistance or clinical examination carried out by a gynecologist or a mastologist, which must be carried out once a year from the age of 40. And the third strategy is mammography, which must be carried out once every 2 years. from the age of 50 or earlier, according to medical indication” added Dr. Angelina Álvarez.
The Self-examination
Regarding self-examination, Dr. Angelina Álvarez stated that it should be carried out from the age of 20 once a month in premenopausal women. The recommendation is that it be done eight days following the menstrual period and postmenopausal women should have it done once a month on the day they choose.
“Self-examination, the first thing is to inspect the breasts, stand in front of a mirror with your hands on your waist, look in detail at the appearance of the breasts. If we see changes in the skin such as peeling, redness or we see areas of ulceration, these are reasons to immediately consult a specialist,” explained the specialist at the Serena del Mar Hospital.
Palpation should then be performed with the three middle fingers of the contralateral hand and the ipsilateral hand in an organized manner. What doctors suggest is that it be done in a clockwise direction, identifying if there are masses or lumps.
“We must also palpate that tissue that is between the breast and the armpit, with the intention of identifying potential abnormalities at this level. We recommend that palpation be performed lying down, because in this case, the breast tissue is dispersed and it will be easier to identify any mass or lump. After this palpation, it is also important to perform a little compression at the level of the nipple to identify if there is any bloody secretion coming out,” Álvarez highlighted.
In the event that masses are identified, changes are seen in the skin, such as red skin, thickened skin, dimpled skin, any ulceration or bloody discharge, a specialist should be consulted immediately, ideally in mastology, to be able to perform complementary studies, clinical examination indicated by the specialist.
Care at the Serena del Mar Hospital
The Cancer Institute of the Serena del Mar Hospital has a multidisciplinary team to address breast cancer from the moment of diagnosis to provide treatment and finally to recover the quality of life of all patients.
“We have a team of breast and soft tissue surgeons, a clinical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, we have a specialist in pain and palliative care and we also have a team of specialists in oncological support that will allow us not only to treat these patients successfully, but also to restore the quality of life that these patients used to have. We have all the necessary equipment to make a timely diagnosis of breast cancer,” said Dr. Angelina Álvarez.
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