Breast cancer is the leading cancer affecting women in Malaysia and studies show one in 19 women will develop this dreaded disease in their lifetime.
The good news however, is that advanced screening tools, as well as modern medical and surgical treatments have meant breast cancer is now more treatable than ever before, especially if detected early.
Breast cancer in its advanced stages has a much lower survival rate and a high recurrence rate due to the cancer cells having become more widespread.
Therefore, early detection and treatment is the fundamental step in fighting breast cancer.
There are four stages to breast cancer. Staging the disease helps outline the best treatment in order to achieve the least risk with the most benefit to the patient.
STAGE 1: The size of the tumour is two centimetres or smaller and has not spread outside the breast. The five-year survival rate for stage 1 breast cancer is 99%.
STAGE 2: The cancer has reached the lymph nodes, regardless of the tumour size. The five-year survival rate is about 86%.
STAGE 3: The cancer has spread to nearby tissue outside the breast such as the chest wall. The five-year survival rate drops to 57%.
STAGE 4: The cancer has metastasised, spreading to distant parts of the body. The five-year survival is only about 20%.
How to detect breast cancer early
Breast self-examination (BSE): Women should regularly check their breasts for any changes in the appearance of the skin or abnormal lumps. It is important to check under the armpits for any lumps as this may indicate the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes.
BSE is ideally done once a month just after menstruation. In postmenopausal women, it should be done at regular monthly intervals. If any abnormal changes are detected, visit your doctor immediately for a thorough check up.
Mammogram: This is the best screening tool to detect early breast cancer. It is an X-ray of the breast which can detect small cancerous lumps which may be missed in a physical clinical examination.
A mammogram screening, also called mammography, is recommended if you are over 40 years old. However, if you have a family history of breast cancer or are prone to having suspicious lumps, a mammography is recommended even earlier.
A mammography is advised every one to two years but for younger women (below 35 years old), the ultrasound scan of the breast is preferred as breasts at this age contains less dense tissue which makes a mammography less accurate.
Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC): This can be done on suspicious lumps. This is a minor procedure that involves the removal of a small amount of tissue from the lump, which is then sent to the lab for further investigation.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This is the most sensitive investigation to detect the presence of cancer cells as it gives a good picture of the soft tissue. However, not all cases require an MRI be conducted unless recommended by the doctor.
How is early breast cancer treated?
The mainstay modality of treatment for breast cancer is always surgery. Just like the weeds in your garden, it is better to remove it before it grows larger and spreads.
The treatment for early breast cancer may often involve more than one approach.
Conservative breast surgery involves the preservation of the majority of breast tissue, and only the tumour and the tissue surrounding the tumour is removed through a wide local excision.
Mastectomy involves a larger portion of the breast. The nipple is removed along with a few lymph nodes. After a mastectomy, the breast can be reconstructed through plastic surgery.
Radiation therapy may be needed after surgery to kill any cancerous tissue left behind.
Chemotherapy may be advised prior to surgery to make the breast cancer more operable.
Consult your doctor if suspicious of a lump you have detected but do keep in mind that not all lumps are cancerous. However, if a lump is indeed cancerous, it would be dangerous to ignore it. Remember, early breast cancer detection saves lives.
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DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained here with other sources, and review all information with your physician. Please do not disregard professional medical advice or delay treatment because of something you have read here. FMT is not responsible and liable for any damage caused through information obtained here.