Early detection can help save your life

OCTOBER is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease.

While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same.

“Death from breast cancer is a tragedy, and going for mammograms and regular medical check-ups can help detect cancers earlier,” says Dr Carol-Ann Benn, head of the Netcare Breast Care Centre of Excellence.

“When breast cancer is detected early, before it invades tissues outside the breast, the survival rate is as high as 95%.”

With one in nine South African women diagnosed with breast cancer, there are pertinent facts that we all need to know.

Breast cancer is a disease with a multifactorial aetiology. This means that we cannot isolate one single cause.

There are various genetic factors and triggers that may cause cancer. Knowing what these factors are arms us with the knowledge to take preventative measures, says Dr Kulsum Jhetam, a radiologist from Mokopane.

“Unfortunately, some of these factors are beyond our control. The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is being a woman. For every 100 women with breast cancer, one man will develop the disease.”

Another big risk factor is age. Breast cancer can occur at any age, starting from the late teens. But as we grow older, our risk steadily increases.

The highest risk group is women aged 55 to 70. That being said, breast cancer tends to be more aggressive when it occurs in younger women.

Hereditary breast cancer accounts for only 10 to 15% of all breast cancers.

The BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genetic mutations have been linked to hereditary breast cancer. Women who test positive for one of these mutations have a much higher risk of being affected than the general population. They also tend to have more aggressive, faster growing cancers.

The good news is that there are some factors in our control.

Risk-reducing factors are:

• Exercising 30 to 60 minutes four times a week reduces your risk for breast cancer.

• Eating a balanced diet high in fibre, low in saturated fats and low in animal protein.

• Breastfeeding reduces your risk, and is good for your baby.

• Examining your breasts once a month and having your GP or gynaecologist examine you once a year.

• Having a mammogram once a year (40 years of age). Screening mammograms have been shown to significantly reduce deaths from breast cancer in women aged 40 to 69.

Factors that increase your risk are:

• Smoking – smoking increases your risk for breast cancer, lung cancer, throat cancer and kidney cancer and it causes osteoporosis.

• Alcohol – limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day. More than two units of alcohol a day increase your risk.

• Hormone replacement therapy

• Obesity – due to the excessive amounts of oestrogen circulating in your bloodstream.

The key to fighting breast cancer is early diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis means a better chance of complete cure and a wider range of treatment options with less radical surgical procedures.

Why should you do a monthly self-examination? 70% of all breast cancers are found through self-exams. So learn to do breast self-examinations every month after your period. A lump is not the only sign of breast cancer. And only one in 10 lumps are diagnosed as breast cancer.

The other nine in 10 lumps are usually caused by benign conditions, commonly cysts and fibroadenomas. Despite this, every lump must be examined by a medical practitioner as soon as possible.

Other signs to look for include a change in the shape of the breast, dimpling of the skin, nipple changes such as ulceration, crusting, redness or inversion; a rash (like eczema) on the nipple or a nipple discharge. Most early breast cancers are not painful.

Why should you have a mammogram? Not all lumps can be detected through touch alone.

Mammograms can detect breast changes up to three to five years before experienced doctors feel a 1cm lump. This means much earlier diagnosis.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide and in parts of South Africa (cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Limpopo and other rural areas).

In support of Breast Health Awareness Month in South Africa, all radiology practices specialising in breast imaging are offering a 10% discount on mammograms, not paid for by medical aid schemes, during the month of October and first half of November.

Dr Jhetam is based in the 1st building of Silverfern Office Park at 124 Thabo Mbeki Drive. Contact him at (015) 491 3330 or xray@silverferngroup.co.za.