As we get better with health awareness, the thought of a cancer screening can still be overwhelming. Yet, it’s the most important step we can take, to tackle the disease, especially when it comes to a women’s health issue like breast cancer, one of the most common cancers in India.
We Need to Talk About Breast Health
Breast cancer accounts for approximately 28% of all female cancers, in India. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early and is localized, the 5-year survival rate is as high as 99%. In India, however, this rate is less than 60%.
One of the primary reasons remains lack of regular screening, which prevents early diagnosis of the disease, and timely treatment. It is recommended that women between the ages of 30 and 40 years undergo ultrasound exams, while those over the age of 40 years take the mammogram test. However, only 1.6% of women between the ages of 30 to 69 years in India have ever undergone breast cancer screening, despite the implementation of population screening programs by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Younger women tend to overlook the importance of breast examinations, due to the misconception that breast cancer occurs only among older women.
Breast health awareness and encouraging women to develop a proactive approach to manage their health is therefore the first and most crucial step towards changing these statistics. Let’s start with a basic self-care technique that you can add to your daily schedule, for better breast self-awareness.
Getting to know your body
A breast self-examination is a useful way to get familiar with your body, and keep a lookout for changes. Doctors recommend that self-examinations should be conducted once every month by women over the age of 30 years. A healthcare provider can guide you on the most effective way to palpitate the breasts and spot anomalies that may need medical attention.
Screening to unmask hidden changes
While self-examinations help us find and report obvious changes, clinical tools like ultrasounds and mammograms identify deeper or more subtle signs of an issue like lumps, tumors, cysts or abnormal density, even dense breast tissues. This test is used for routine screening among those who have no symptoms of breast cancer, as well as for diagnosis, to get to the heart of any alterations found during a physical examination. Any suspicious mammogram findings are further evaluated by an ultrasound, MRI or biopsy, to rule out breast cancer or decide the next course of action.
Many women put off this exam out of fear or nervousness; the procedure can be physically uncomfortable and the anticipation of the test report, too, can be unnerving. The apprehension is a natural feeling, but here’s something encouraging: mammograms help to diagnose the disease at an early stage, when treatment is most likely to be successful. The evidence offers solace—screenings have shown to significantly reduce the rates of advanced breast cancer and improve health outcomes for women diagnosed with the disease.
Based on your family history and other health conditions, healthcare experts can calculate your risk and advise you on a suitable time to begin screening regularly.
Understanding your inherited risk
About 5-10% of breast cancers are hereditary. Medical science is evolving to let us detect a disease, before symptoms set in.
This inherited risk can be analyzed using advanced biomarkers, that indicate the incidence or outcomes of a disease. The BRCA gene test which studies the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, to reveal mutations associated with a higher chance of developing breast cancer. Some healthcare practitioners recommend a multi-gene testing panel to include other genes that may be involved in the cause of breast cancer. You can speak to your physician to evaluate if you need to consider genetic testing. Counseling, too, can help people understand what this test means for their future, and make a more informed healthcare decision.
Preparing for a safer future
People who test positive for genetic mutations linked to breast cancer may be advised to undergo more frequent screenings to ensure early diagnosis of the disease, in case it manifests. Knowing if a patient’s cancer is related to a specific gene mutation helps the healthcare team plan targeted therapy protocol.
When it comes to health, awareness is power. With advanced health technology and diagnostic capabilities, we have the knowledge to stay ahead of challenges in our health journey— this reminder can ease the anxiety of testing and encourage more women to take essential preventive steps in the fight against breast cancer.
Disclaimer: The information mentioned in this document is only suggestive /for patient education and shall not be considered as a substitute for doctor’s advice or recommendations from Abbott. Please consult your doctor for more information.
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