Don’t be shy, let’s talk about breast cancer screening | Expert Says

GetDocSays invited Dr Ong Kong Wee, Breast Surgeon and General Surgeon, to share some insights about breast cancer screening and what to expect in the case of a diagnosis. He highlighted the importance of  regular mammogram screening to detect breast cancer early. Yet, according to the Singapore Cancer Society, about 60% of women aged 50 to 69 years are skipping theirs.

Don’t take chances, early detection is the best protection, so catch it early. It only takes 30 minutes for a breast cancer screening mamography to saves lives.

1. What are the ideal methods and interval for breast cancer screening?

Breast self-examination and mammography are useful methods for breast cancer screening. For this purpose, the recommendations (by the Ministry of Health, Singapore) for each age group are as follows:

2. What are the red flags indicative of breast cancer to look out for?

Keep an eye out for some of these common symptoms:

• Painless lump in the breast
• Persistent itch and rash around the nipple
• Bleeding or unusual discharge from the nipple
• Skin over the breast is swollen and thickened
• Skin over the breast is dimpled or puckered
• Nipple is pulled in or retracted

However, note that Asian women usually have dense breast tissue, hence appearing lumpy to touch. This makes it difficult to differentiate between a normal and a cancerous lump.

3. What are the appropriate next steps for someone with symptoms of breast cancer?

First of all, you shouldn’t panic. It is common to have breast lumps, with more than 90% of breast lumps reported as benign (non-cancerous). Nonetheless, it is still important to have the lump checked by a doctor and have some tests done to rule out breast cancer.

During consultation, please let your doctor know about your symptoms as accurately as you can. Remember to highlight any potential risk factors, especially a family history of breast cancer among close relatives.

4. What are the common diagnostic tests to confirm breast cancer?

Following consultation and physical examination by your doctor, the doctor may decide on a number of tests to assist in diagnosing breast cancer. This may include:

• Mammogram
• Ultrasound
• MRI scan
• Needle biopsy

5. How to overcome the biggest hurdles as a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient?

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, but knowing what to expect may help you feel more at ease. Your doctor and his team will be able to provide you with the necessary information and support to help you cope during this period of adjustment. There are also many breast cancer support groups that one can turn to.

Give priority to getting the appropriate treatment to make you well again. You may have to reprioritise or find alternative arrangements for other important things in your life to allow you to concentrate on your treatment.

6. What is the future like for a breast cancer patient?

Early diagnosis and detection because of screening and public awareness, and the availability of better treatment options, have led to a 60% improvement in survival rates in the last 50 years. In fact, 3 out of 4 breast cancers are now discovered at an early stage, which means patients are suitable for shorter and more tolerable treatment options.

Further reading: The Truth Behind Common Breast Cancer Myths

Disclaimer

Important: The GetDocSays team has made extensive and reasonable efforts to ensure that medical information is accurate. The content reflect the opinions and views of the contributors and not the publisher.

The information on this site is not professional advice. Neither does it to replace personal consultation with a  health care professional. The reader should not disregard medical advice or delay seeking it because of information published here.

Tags

• Breast Cancer
• breast cancer awareness month
• breast cancer screening
• breast self examination
• cancer screening
• mammogram