BREAST CANCER CAN BE PREVENTED ?
Even there are known many risk factors related to breast cancer, it's not clear which of them is the real cause.
Because of this, we cant discuss about a certain modality of prevention.
The best strategy is to reduce risk factors where is possible and to publish guidelines for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.
Genetic tests can indicate if a woman has mutant genes, but they cant show which woman will develop breast cancer.
Anyway genetics tests are very expensive and they aren't covered by insurances systems from any country.
Persons with positive results must be very carefully because, the possibility of developing of breast cancer can cause them many socio-economical prejudices (at work, signing of an insurance even in a private system).
Tamoxifen, used in treatment of breast cancer for many years,according to some recent studies could reduce the risk for women with a high risk if it's administered for a long period of time, although others studies report that its administration doesn't prevent the disease but it can treat the disease when the lesions are very small.
Another drug, Raloxifen, with the same anti-estrogenic effect but with cardio-protector effect, could be efficient in prevention.
In rare cases, with strong risk factors: hereditary genetic mutations, early breast cancer, family history of breast cancer, clear diagnosis of "in situ" lobular carcinoma, can be taken into account the prophylactic mastectomy (preventive), which involve the removal of one or both breasts. Although, this surgical intervention decrease the risk for breast cancer, this think doesn't guarantee that disease will not appear in the post-operatory tissue.
Anyway, the prophylactic mastectomy remains a debated and controversy subject.
HOW CAN BE DETECTED THE BREAST CANCER ?
In order to assure treatment's success it is necessary an early detection. Most of the international guidelines of prevention mention the following conditions:
1. Women over 20 years must have a monthly self-examination of the breasts.
2. Women between 20-29 years of age must have a clinic exam of the breast to every 3 years.
3. Women over forties must visit a specialist for a clinic exam of the breasts yearly, and in case of any suspicion must make a mammogram to his recommendation.
4. Women over age of 50 years in addition to yearly clinic exam of the breasts must have a yearly mammogram.
Together, these methods give the chance for an early diagnosis and cure.
MAMMOGRAMS
It's the only efficient screening method, as long as it can detect the breast cancer, with some years early before the signs and symptoms become evident for physician and patient.
Mammogram is a X-ray of the breast. It can be used to diagnose the disease of the breast to woman who has already symptoms, versus screening when it is used to detect the lesions along women without symptoms (apparently health).
It is performed with a special machine which is formed by a X-ray tube and a contention system of breasts (two plates that fix the breast for some seconds during X-rays exposure). Radiography of the breast is preformed with a very low dose of radiations, that doesn't increase the risk of breast cancer.
For example, a woman whose breast is irradiated with curative intention receives some thousands of rad-s (which represent the measure unit of radiation) in contrast with a woman around 40 years who will have yearly mammograms till the age of 90, receiving only 10 rad-s.
Mammogram can be consider like an indentation of the breast, the aspect varying from a woman to another. Some cancers can produce subtle and difficult recognizable signs, so as, many times others old mammograms of the breast are required to compare them.
Mammography abnormalities of breast cancer include: point lesions, with aspect of crab or like a star, small asymmetrical densities, some calcifications, disstorssions of the normal architecture or any aspect of asymmetry.
Also, a breast cancer can appear like a "round lesion", but this aspect is less frequent.
Also micro-calcifications are characteristic for breast cancer.
Screening through mammography is a X-rays examination of the breast of aymptomatic women in order to detect cancer with small sizes, difficult to be detected.
Early detection assure the treatment's success.
Usually, the mammogram is performed for both breasts in 2 positions for each breast.
For certain are necessary supplementary films.
Let’s be together in the fight for life!
It is performed with a special machine which is formed by a X-ray tube and a contention system of breasts (two plates that fix the breast for some seconds during X-rays exposure). Radiography of the breast is preformed with a very low dose of radiations, that doesn't increase the risk of breast cancer.
For example, a woman whose breast is irradiated with curative intention receives some thousands of rad-s (which represent the measure unit of radiation) in contrast with a woman around 40 years who will have yearly mammograms till the age of 90, receiving only 10 rad-s.
Also, a breast cancer can appear like a "round lesion", but this aspect is less frequent.
Also micro-calcifications are characteristic for breast cancer.
Early detection assure the treatment's success.
Usually, the mammogram is performed for both breasts in 2 positions for each breast.
For certain are necessary supplementary films.
Let’s be together in the fight for life!
P.S.: For more information contact The Romanian Cancer League:
Addresse: Piaţa Romană Nr. 9, Sc. B, Et. 2 Ap. 8, Sect. 1 Bucharest, Romania
Phone: +40.21-314.69.23; +40.21-314.69.33;
Fax: +40.21-313.24.98;
Email: office@romaniancancerleague.org
Web: www.romaniancancerleague.org
We will be delighted if you'll come beside us in this campaign for informing and making aware the population about cancer and the danger it represents.
You only have to transmit our message to your friends and aquintances.
We rely on your support!
© ROMANIAN CANCER LEAGUE - 2004