Our hospital's Breast Unit Clinical Administrative Responsible Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali ERYILMAZ and Radiology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Ayşegül ALTUNKESER gave important information on the occasion of "1- 31 October Breast Cancer Awareness Month".
Prof. said that October 1-31 has been designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month since 2004 by the World Health Organization in order to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and awareness of breast cancer. Dr. Mehmet Ali ERYILMAZ; “In October, non-governmental organizations, health authorities and civil administrations carried out many activities such as walks, runs, pink lighting of various structures and buildings, informational meetings and wearing pink ribbons to raise breast cancer awareness all over the world; Many news about breast cancer awareness are on the agenda in the written and visual media.
The aim here is to prevent breast cancer and increase the rate of early diagnosis through breast cancer awareness. In addition to being life-saving, early diagnosis has benefits such as preventing organ loss, avoiding unnecessary extra treatments and improving the quality of life.
I believe that significant progress has been made in breast cancer screening in our country. For early diagnosis, people between the ages of 20-40 should perform BSE (Self-Breast Examination) once a month and have a Clinical Breast Examination by a physician once a year. Between the ages of 40 and 69, mammography should be performed every 2 years.
For women with a family history of breast cancer or genetically inherited cancer, it is recommended to use breast MRI in addition to breast ultrasonography (USG) and mammography (MG). For patients with suspicion of cancer based on anamnesis examination and mammography, breast ultrasound and, if necessary, breast MRI are performed, and diagnosis is made by taking an ultrasound-guided biopsy.
5-10% of breast cancer is familial and genetically inherited. Genetic counseling and genetic research are performed on people with early breast cancer, a family history of breast cancer-related cancer, or a genetic mutation that causes cancer. The risk of breast cancer is 2-5 times higher in these patients.
A patient diagnosed with breast cancer should undergo surgical treatment, chemotherapy and, if necessary, radiotherapy. They will have a 5-year follow-up after the surgery. We recommend regular check-ups every 3 months for the first 2 years and every 6 months for the remaining 3 years.
According to Breast Cancer screening standards, mammography screening is performed between the ages of 40-69 in our country. This age range is accepted by our Ministry of Health. However, we have 75-year-old patients who were operated on with a diagnosis of breast cancer. I believe that our Ministry of Health will make evaluations in the light of scientific data and the upper limit of screening age will be increased towards the age of 75. Although there is no age limit that we would not follow in terms of breast cancer, I believe that women over the age of 80, who do not have any problems with their regular follow-up, can be discontinued.
Breast cancer is common in our country, as well as all over the world. According to cancer statistics, when all age groups are evaluated in our country, it is the most common cancer with 24.9% of all cancers detected in women. Breast cancer occurs in 43 out of every 100,000 women.
In our country, unlike western societies, breast cancer is more common at young ages. 19.2% of 100 breast cancer cases are under the age of 40. It is most common in the 40-50 age group (31%). "The incidence of breast cancer in the first 50 years of age is around 50%." said.
Assoc. Dr. Ayşegül ALTUNKESER; “Breast cancer is common in the world and in Turkey, and every woman has a risk of developing breast cancer at a rate of approximately 13% throughout her life. Therefore, our women should be careful about this issue. Regardless of age, we can encounter breast cancer at young ages. This becomes even more important, especially if there is a genetic predisposition. Due to the genetic aspect of breast cancer, breast MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) as a screening method has an important indication, especially in individuals with genetic predisposition.
Early diagnosis is very important in breast cancer. Mammography (MG) and ultrasonography (USG), which we use for diagnosis and screening purposes, are effective and easily accessible imaging methods. “We would like to emphasize the importance of this.” said.