Preventing Young Breast Cancer: Importance of Early Detection and Treatment

2023-08-04 16:09:50

Dr. Chen Yihan reminded that there is an increasing trend of young breast cancer, and young women must not ignore it. (Provided by Daecheon General Hospital)

Text/Reporter Chen Wenmin

Breast cancer is the cancer with the highest incidence among the top ten cancers in women. Although most of the cancers occur in the age group of 45-69, in recent years, due to the influence of westernized diet and living environment, “young breast cancer” under the age of 40 has gradually increased. Moreover, the cancer cells are highly malignant and can easily invade lymph nodes or spread along the milk ducts. Chen Yihan, a general surgeon at Daqian General Hospital, reminded that female friends over the age of 30 should receive regular breast ultrasound examinations in order to detect and treat early.Seek medical attention only when you feel a hard lump, which may be the second stage of breast cancer. (123RF)

According to Taiwan epidemiological data, the proportion of “young breast cancer” under the age of 40 is 16.6% (8% in the United States), and the proportion of “very young breast cancer” under the age of 35 is 9%. According to Daqian Hospital, in the first half of this year alone, seven breast cancer patients (regarding 15%) under the age of 40 have been admitted to the hospital, the youngest of whom is only 31 years old, and what they all have in common is that they have already felt a lump Only following seeing a doctor, most of them are in the second stage of breast cancer or even metastasized.

Dr. Chen Yihan suggested that women over the age of 30 should undergo regular breast ultrasound examinations in order to detect abnormalities early. (Provided by Daecheon General Hospital)

Chen Yihan reminded that since women under the age of 40 are not within the age range for subsidizing mammography examinations by the National Health Administration, and the breasts of young women are relatively dense, they are also prone to breast nodules due to menstrual cycles, which increases the difficulty of mammography diagnosis , leading to late discovery and delayed treatment of the best time. Therefore, it is recommended that women over the age of 30 receive a breast ultrasound examination once a year, and if abnormalities are found, they can be dealt with early.

Young breast cancer (red circle) cells are highly malignant and are likely to invade lymph nodes (blue circle) or spread along milk ducts. (Provided by Daecheon General Hospital)

Studies have shown that young breast cancer cells are highly malignant and are likely to invade lymph nodes or spread along milk ducts. Therefore, in addition to surgical resection, other adjuvant treatments are also recommended, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or anti-hormonal therapy, etc. . However, these treatments will cause hormones to decline, affect ovarian function, and enter menopause early. Therefore, before treatment, you must first understand whether there is a need for fertility, and discuss with the obstetrician and gynecologist the way to preserve ovarian function. ◇

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