Early breast cancer detection key to better survival rates
Health experts say early detection and regular screening remain the most effective ways to fight breast cancer.
“Early detection and prevention offer the best outcomes when it comes to breast cancer.”
This is according to Dr Amal Singh, HOD of Surgery at Tambo Memorial Hospital.
Signs, stages, treatment
According to Singh, early signs of breast cancer include a lump (which may be painless), changes to the skin, dimpling, redness around the nipple area, and breast tenderness.
Stage 0 refers to non-invasive in situ cancer.
Stages 1 to 3 indicate invasive cancers of varying sizes and degrees of local spread.
Stage 4 is metastatic, meaning the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.
“Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer,” said Singh. Surgery may involve a lumpectomy (removal of the tumour) or a mastectomy (removal of the entire breast). In some cases, lymph nodes are also removed to determine whether the cancer has spread.
He noted that surgery is often combined with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy. “Breast cancer should be treated by a team of specialists from different disciplines,” he said.
Advances in treatment
Singh also pointed to advancements in targeted therapy, a form of precision medicine that attacks only the cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. “This is a major breakthrough in treatment,” Singh added.
Risk factors
Risk factors include a family history of breast cancer as well as smoking, alcohol use and hormonal therapy.
“What is concerning is that we are seeing more cases of breast cancer in younger women. This is why awareness is so important.”
Common misconceptions
Singh said one of the most common misconceptions is that breast cancer only affects women.
“Men can also get breast cancer, but many don’t believe it can happen to them,” he said.
Another widespread myth is that sleeping with a bra on or keeping a cellphone in your bra can cause cancer – both of which are false.
Diagnosis and what to ask
When diagnosed with breast cancer, Singh advises patients to ask their doctor key questions:
What type of breast cancer do I have? What stage is my cancer? What are my treatment options?
He urged all women to perform regular breast self-examinations and to undergo a mammogram from the age of 40 onwards.
“A mammogram is only reliable for women over 40. For younger women, an ultrasound is more effective,” he said.
