OCTOBER is Breast Cancer Awareness month. In the Philippines, the most common cancer in women is Breast Cancer. About 18 % of Filipinas are diagnosed with Breast Cancer. In my radiology practice, Sonogram of the breasts and Mammography are quite popular among women.
Usually a breast cancer is detected via the patient having felt a lump in her breast, some complain of pain, or through a check-up in which the physician felt or palpated a mass in the breast. After which, the patient is referred for a mammogram and breast ultrasound.
What are the usual risk factors in a patient who has Breast Cancer? The patient may have a family history of breast cancer, usually mother or sister. The incidence of the Breast cancer is also a cigarette smoker, alcoholic beverage drinker, overweight, sedentary lifestyle and hormonal intake therapy. Women who have never conceived a baby are also at increased risk of breast cancer.
In the recent years, early detection of breast cancer may have increased in number, but through early detection, it has increased the life expectancy rate of breast cancer patients through appropriate treatment protocols.
Early detection of breast cancer is done first by Breast Self-Examination, having a regular check up with proper physical examination with a physician and being referred for a Sonomammogram.
A daily breast self -examination is done with your breast exposed, with your left hand on your right breast while your right hand is cupping the right breast for support. The left hand feels the breast for lumps in a circular motion from the inner to outer portions around the breast. Then the nipple is pinched lightly to check for discharges. It is also done on the left breast with the same protocol.
It is recommended that women, 40 years of age, even without symptoms should have a screening yearly Sonomammogram. Meanwhile for patients having a strong family history of breast cancer (having a mother or sister with breast cancer), an earlier than 40 years of age is suggested.
Not all lumps are considered malignant. If the sonomammogram results are found to have suspicious features, the patient is then referred for a biopsy of the mass or nodule. A biopsy is done by an adept surgeon or physician by getting a sample specimen through core biopsy or surgical mass excision. Then the patient waits for a week or two for biopsy specimen results where the actual specimen will have a diagnosis, either benign or malignant.
The sonomammogram and biopsy results will be interpreted to the patient by the health care provider or attending physician and appropriate treatment protocols will be explained.
So hope to see you women this October. Let’s make this our yearly date for a Sonomammogram!
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The author is Dr. Candice Magdalane A. Tupas, a former 3 termer City Councilor and presently the Executive Assistant to Mayor Raisa Trenas for Medical Tourism and Other Health Initiatives . She is a practicing Radiologist, a Wife to Former City Councilor Lex Tupas and mother to Alexa, Lextom, Lexie and Alexander./PN
