2023-10-03 22:01:52
Breast cancer remains the main oncological disease among Venezuelan women: every day 10 women die from breast cancer in the country, according to the most recent estimates from the Anticancer Society of Venezuela (SAV).
They are diagnosed annually more than 8,600 cases of breast cancer in the country, according to preliminary data from the SAV study on cancer forecasts in Venezuela for 2023, released this October, breast cancer awareness month.
The organization estimates that 3,515 women die every year for breast cancer in Venezuela.
“In Venezuela, 10 patients die every day from breast cancer, six women die from lung cancer, six from cervical cancer, two women from ovarian cancer and one from cancer of the body of the uterus. “The pink month is not so pink,” said Dr. Juan Saavedra, general manager of the SAV, during a press conference this Tuesday, October 3.
Although he Breast cancer is diagnosed more between 45 and 54 years of age In Venezuela, the age group with the most deaths from this cause in the country is women between 55 and 64 years of age.
According to Saavedra, this means that women are not only diagnosed young, but also die prematurely.
“Every woman who dies from cervical cancer is losing 20 years of her lifespan. Every woman who dies from breast cancer is losing 15 years of her life. productive social. Every woman who dies from lung cancer is losing 10 years,” she explained.
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Women’s health beyond breast cancer
For the Anticancer Society of Venezuela, October should be a month dedicated not only to breast cancer prevention, but also to awareness regarding women’s health.
“Venezuelan women die not only from breast cancer,” said the gynecologist. Yrama Baloamanager of the Mobile Clinic Units of the organizationa community research program.
According to the organization, the second most common type of cancer in Venezuelan women is cervical cancer, associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
According to the SAV, by 2023 it is estimated 5,707 cases of cervical cancer in Venezuela and 2,037 deaths.
With these new figures, cervical cancer would be the third type of cancer with the most deaths among Venezuelans, surpassed by lung cancer (2,185 deaths and 2,271 cases in total) and breast cancer.
“If we don’t do something in time with cervical cancer, it will become the leading cause of death (from cancer) in Venezuelan women. Of 5,900 patients that we were able to screen, 49.63% had premalignant cervical lesions associated with HPV,” Baloa added.
Cervical cancer is preventable by vaccination once morest the highest oncogenic risk types of HPV, but the HPV vaccine is not available in the public system in Venezuela and the price of each dose in the private sector ranges between $60 and $350.
You may be interested: What happens with the HPV vaccine in Venezuela? (II)
Prevention and timely diagnosis
For the Anticancer Society of Venezuela, the findings presented should mobilize the population and authorities to promote prevention, screening and early diagnosis of different types of cancer in women.
Older age, family and personal history, alcohol consumption, ethnic origin, early menarche, late menopause and late pregnancies are some of the risk factors for breast cancer.
“If there is a direct family history of breast cancer, the possibility of breast cancer developing in successive generations is greater. Obesity is also statistically related to breast cancer,” said Dr. Saavedra.
Mammograms and constant mastological and gynecological check-ups in women over 35 years of age allow for timely detection and save lives, according to the SAV.
“In women who detect breast cancer at a very early age, more than 90% of cases can be curable. Cancer is not synonymous with death. With current technology, with the means we have, with early detection, with lifestyle changes, we can modify those numbers that look dramatic,” said Saavedra.
For October 19, World Breast Cancer Day, the SAV will inaugurate the exhibition “From the center of my chest”, with stories of women with breast cancer, at the Los Palos Grandes Library.
On October 21 and 22 they will carry out cultural activities at the Library and on October 25 they will have a gala for their 75th anniversary at the Teresa Carreño Theater. At the Cancer Prevention Clinic they maintain care with mastological consultations, mammograms and breast ultrasounds.
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