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BREAST CANCER - PREVENTION – TESTS
It cannot be said enough, yet we often let slip the importance of breast cancer prevention and self-examination.
Before we think that just a healthy lifestyle, exercise and a sensible diet can prevent the development of cancer, we must sadly discourage everyone. Rather, it would be more accurate to say that a sedentary lifestyle and the consumption of unhealthy food can also be a major contributory factor to the development of breast cancer, for example.
However, there are easily available preventive options that have a high chance of leading to a perfect cure if someone is diagnosed with breast cancer. The most important factor is TIME: the cure rate for breast cancer detected early is around 80%, which is the best rate in cancer treatment. So all we need to do is to look after ourselves and regularly undergo and complete screening tests, which are not at all complicated and easily available.
What are the options available to everyone? We have put them together for you:
EVALUATION
Surprising as it may seem, this simple and easy to learn method can really save lives. If you check your breasts regularly every month, you may discover a lump yourself, and if you have it checked by a doctor, you can avoid tragedy.
The self-check, which can be done by touch in about 5 minutes, is painless and involves just a few simple movements.
However, remember that lumps that you can feel with your hands may indicate a more advanced stage of the disease. Self-examination therefore works well as a complementary test. To be sure of detecting the disease in time, regular mammograms are necessary.
MAMMOGRAPHY
The primary aim of screening is to detect early, small lesions that are not yet palpable or noticeable. This is where this examination method is the perfect solution.
In Hungary today, mammography is available free of charge every two years to asymptomatic women aged between 45 and 65, and is complemented by a screening test with palpation.
Many people are afraid of the somewhat uncomfortable pressure that the machine exerts during the mammography scan. But this discomfort lasts for only a few seconds, and let's face it, these few seconds are bearable if the treatment of any tumour found can begin much sooner, greatly improving the chances of survival.
Don't be afraid of the scan, neither the pressure nor the radiation exposure to your body is dangerous. (A mammogram scan involves 0.2-0.4 millisieverts of radiation, which is the equivalent of ten chest X-rays. The average exposure from our environment is 2-2.4 millisieverts per year from cosmic background radiation.)
ULTRASOUND
The great advantage of ultrasound breast examination is that it is completely painless and can also provide information about the structure and composition of the lesion discovered during the examination. For example, you can see whether the lump you are examining contains fluid or is made up of other cellular material. It is therefore a perfect complement to mammography and self-examination, but it is not a substitute for either method.
As breast cancer is not only a risk for women over 40-45 years of age, it can also be used at a younger age, unlike mammography, which is usually used for women over 30.
BIOPSE
Biopsies are only performed if the location of the lesion has been identified by previous tests (mammography, ultrasound, palpation).
Biopsies can be considered as a preventive test for breast tumours because it is the only way to determine with absolute certainty whether the lump is a benign or malignant lesion.
There are several ways to take a sample, depending on the size and location of the tumour. Completely painless, outpatient sampling is becoming more common, but breast biopsies are also performed in hospital under anaesthesia if necessary.
It is important to know that cancer is not only a threat to older people. Genetic factors are particularly important in breast cancer, since for those with a family history of breast cancer on the mother's side, precaution and regular screening at a young age are of paramount importance.
We should not think that breast cancer is only found in women. It can also occur in men, albeit rarely, so it really is essential for everyone to check their own bodies regularly and thoroughly.
So let's not be afraid to get checked, let's dare to seek specialist help and let's look after ourselves and each other. Our lives may depend on it.
There are many misunderstandings and myths in the public consciousness about breast cancer screening, which can discourage participation in screenings. It is important to clarify these, as screening is one of the most effective tools for the early detection of breast cancer.
In Hungary only, malignant breast cancer is the second most common cause of death among cancer patients: more than 2,000 women die each year, and nearly 9,000 new cases are diagnosed.
Before thinking that simply leading a healthy lifestyle, exercising, and following a balanced diet can completely prevent cancer, we must inform everyone that this is not entirely the case. However, it’s correct to say that a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits can contribute to the development of breast cancer. Still, by making a few simple lifestyle changes, we can reduce the risks.
Self-examination plays a crucial role in the early detection of breast cancer, as it is one of the quickest and easiest ways to notice any unusual changes in the breast. Although self-examination does not replace medical screenings, it serves as an important complementary tool for early detection.
