What Is Screening In Breast Cancer?
Early diagnose may decrease the risk of deaths and removal of breasts in breast cancer cases. That is why it is very important to determine breast cancer before the symptoms above appear. Screening methods are described as women getting their breasts checked in order to have early diagnose even though they have no problems or complaints with their breats.
There are three basic screening methods.
- Annual mammography
It takes about 4-5 years for a lump to be recognised by hand. However with mammography a lump could be determined 2-3 years before it can be recognised by hand. Lumps recognised before they are visible by hand have more chance of a better treatment and survival. Women should get their breasts screened after the age of 40. During the screening breast is gently pressed to a machine and X-rays determine the lump, if exists.
- Monthly self examination
Women examining their own breast regularly is a very easy and convenient method. This should be done 3-5 days after the end mensturation. Women in menapouse or women with hysterectomy should also examine their breasts regularly.
If done regularly it is possible to recognise the possible changes in breasts.
- Annual Doctor’s Visit
Women with high risk of breast cancer or with family history of breast cancer should regularly see their doctor when they reach the age of 35-40.
In some specail cases, in women with silicosis, in women who have dense breast tissues, and in women who have family history of breast cancer magnetic resonance screening (MRG)could also be used .
What Are The Diagnose Methods?
In our center we use mammography, ultrasound, breast MRG and elasography and tomosynthesis as diagnose methods. However , the definite diagnosis can be determined by tissue biopsy. A sample tissue is removed form the breast and is sent to our pathology unit and is studied . Then it is determined if it is a maligne tumor or not.
Today, we use fine-needle aspiration, core-needle aspiration, and incisional biopsy techniques to determine the tumor. However, core-needle aspiration is the one we commonly use.
What Are The Treatment Methods?
There isn’t a one and only method fort he treatment of breast cancer. Surgery, radiotherapy, and/or hormon therapy could be used depending on the state of the patient. However the most important step would stil be early diagnosis. Patients who were diagnose at an early stage have a recovery chance of %95.
- Surgery…..In the past the breast used to be removed and and underarm tissues were also removed. However, now, although some patients need the similar kind of surgery, in some patients breast preservation surgery may just be sufficient. In breast preservation surgery some part of the breast is removed and radiotherapy is given to the reamining part of the breast.
Also unnecessary lymph removal is alwasy avoided. If wanted, during the surgery a new breast could be placed in the empty area. This is called onchoplastic surgery. A new breast could easily be made by silicone or by one’s own tissue cells.
- Chemotherapy…Medication that can stop or slow down cell production are very effective for cancer. Tumors that have a potential of moving to other parts of the body can be controlled by these medications. Success rate is getting higher everyday.
- Radiotherapy….By high energy X rays cell production is stopped. This is applied locally.
- Hormon Therapy….Breast tissues are very sensitive to women’s hormones. Fort his reason specail hormon therapies that suppress these hormones are used in thies treatment.
Our center is proud to treat breast cancer successfully with a team of experienced staff.