The "key" to early detection of breast cancer

Breast cancer is a curable disease if detected early. Therefore, regular health check-ups are a measure to help detect breast cancer early.

However, in Vietnam, over 70% of cancer patients come to the hospital at a late stage, so the cure rate is lower than in other countries around the world.

Breast cancer can be prevented and cured

According to Dr. Hoang Dinh Chan, Director of Hung Viet Oncology Hospital, breast cancer accounts for 35% of cancers in women. If detected and treated early, the possibility of curing breast cancer is very high, treatment is simple, inexpensive and the patient's quality of life is significantly improved. Therefore, the results of breast cancer treatment, whether good or bad, depend on the stage of the disease when it is detected. If detected at stage 0 (clinical), the cure rate is 100%; from stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, the cure rate gradually decreases to 95%, 80%, 72% and 25%. Half of breast cancer patients can be saved by the following measures: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and combined with other advanced methods: hormonal therapy, biological therapy (targeted therapy).

Although it is always a dangerous threat to all women, UTV can be completely prevented and cured. Therefore, when there is one of the potential risks such as: family history of sisters, mothers with cancer (risk of UTV is 6 times higher than normal); group of women without children and group of women having children after 30 years old; overweight, obese, smokers ... women need to go for regular check-ups and screening.

Dr. Dam Thu Nga - Doctor of Examination Department - Hung Viet Oncology Hospital

Dr. Hoang Dinh Chan analyzed that breast cancer is a disease that causes a heavy burden and damage to the health and spirit of the patient and their family members, but the general awareness of this disease is still limited, leading to a lack of awareness of disease prevention, especially among young women and parents with teenage girls. Cancer often "borrows" symptoms from other common diseases, is less specific, has little impact on the patient, so it is easily overlooked. Symptoms of newly developed breast cancer are very poor, often only small tumors are seen in the breast, with firm density, unclear boundaries, and are difficult to diagnose.

In the late stage, the symptoms are abundant and easy to diagnose clinically. The tumor is large, firm, and has unclear boundaries. The tumor may adhere to the chest muscles, the skin, sometimes rupture and ulcerate the skin, or appear as inflammation. The axillary lymph nodes on the same side are large, firm, and sometimes there are supraclavicular lymph nodes.

Some cancers are difficult to diagnose early, so regular health check-ups at specialized oncology hospitals are a measure to help detect tumors and cancers early.

Dr. Hoang Dinh Chan also emphasized: "You should have a regular health check-up 1-2 times a year. The cost of a health check-up is very little compared to the amount of money spent on medicine and treatment when a disease is detected."

How to detect breast cancer early?

Women can detect breast cancer early in a fairly simple way: Once a month, at the end of their menstrual period (or a fixed day of the month for postmenopausal women), they check the shape, color, and detect any unusual lumps or tumors in the breast area.

Based on many years of experience in the field of cancer treatment, doctors at Hung Viet Oncology Hospital have gained experience and guided women on how to detect cancer early, thereby choosing the optimal screening and treatment methods for their health.

Step 1: Are the left and right breasts symmetrical? Is the skin on the chest wrinkled, tight, inflamed or rough? Are the nipples sunken or secreting strange fluid?

Step 2: Use your thumb and index finger to gently rub the nipple; Press down on the nipple to see if there is a lump? Gently squeeze the nipple to check for discharge.

Step 3: When lying down, do not use a pillow under your head; Place a small pillow under your left forearm, and place your left hand behind your brain; The method of checking UTV is the same as described in the standing test section.

Step 4: You should check by pressing, rotating, and sliding on the skin. Then use the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger of the other hand to check similarly.

In addition to the above experiences, women should learn more about the signs of UTV and should go to cancer centers for the most accurate testing of UTV problems.

The important thing to detect the disease early is that you must regularly observe and touch your breasts to feel them when there are unusual signs. Because touching - observing - going to the doctor are the 3 keys to detecting breast cancer early.

According to VOV.VN