SPONSORED FEATURE
IT IS EVERYONE ’ S BUSINESS TO BE BREAST HEALTH AWARE
By Dr Evelyn LM Ho , Consultant Clinical Radiologist ; Technical Advisor -Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia ; President – Asian Oceanian Society of Radiology
Breast cancer conjures images of disfigurement , pain and all things negative yet it is highly treatable if discovered early with timely and appropriate treatment . Early discovery also means the overall treatment may be simpler , less costly and more effective . The exact cause of breast cancer is unknown . Many of the risk factors , we cannot change – such as being born female , getting older , having dense breasts ( a feature best seen on mammograms ) and inheriting certain gene changes ( although genetics only causes 5-10 % of cases ). So how do we go about discovering cancer early ? Understanding and getting to know your breasts characteristics and appearance is the first step towards being breast health aware and applies to both men and women . In the ideal situation , one examines one ’ s own breasts systematically once a month , about 3 days after the menses ends , or in those who are menopause or males , at the same date of each month . Ladies older than 18 years can begin this selffamiliarization process .
“ Early detection is the best protection ”
Ranjit Kaur Pritam Singh Board Member Reach to Recovery International
If you feel or observe something of concern in your breasts , and it persists after two menstrual cycles , please see your doctor . For those who are menopausal or male , please see your doctor without too much delay . Whilst we might be worried about a cancer , worrying does not make cancer go away . Instead , you may be wasting precious time . Good news ladies as most abnormalities felt ( commonly a lump ) are not cancer .
As a woman gets older , an annual clinical breast examination ( by a doctor or breast care nurse ) may be added to the routine . If you are female and even if you feel nothing wrong in your breasts , consider a screening mammogram once you are over 40 years old , where the risk of getting breast cancer has increased enough to make screening useful . Then get it done regularly at one or two-yearly intervals . Screening means getting a mammogram when you do not feel or see anything wrong with your breasts . A mammogram can detect cancer before you can feel it , which means early discovery .
Dr Evelyn Ho
The mammogram is a series of special low dose x-rays with the breasts in optimal compression . The “ standard ” mammogram is made up of 2 views per breasts . The “ 3D ” mammogram obtains a series of low dose x-rays in an arc for each view . This produces many images , each with less overlapping breast tissue , thereby improving the ability to pick up abnormalities .
The mammogram does not have a 100 % cancer pick up rate . The ability to detect cancer depends on several factors . This includes each person ’ s unique breast tissue pattern and density ( proportion of fat in relation to the fibroglandular tissue ). Therefore , it is important to keep your old mammograms for
“ Pain or no pain , get your breast lump checked ”
Ranjit Kaur Pritam Singh Board Member Reach to Recovery International
comparison to improve detection and accuracy rates . Despite these factors , the mammogram continues to be the gold standard for breast cancer screening .
Now is the time to take charge of your own health . Remember , early cancer discovery saves lives .
48 VOLUME 5 | 2022 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com