Defense against breast cancer: Early diagnosis via simple screening methods

MANILA, Philippines – Breast cancer continues to be the leading cancer type among women in the Philippines. Because of high levels of estrogen, the disease is far more common in women, although there are some cases when breast cancer occurs in men.

Because early diagnosis is a crucial step to more effective treatment and eradication of the disease, taking a proactive stance through regular screening is necessary.

Doctors encourage women to have periodic physical examinations, which can help spot breast cancer at its early stages since patients have high chances of recovery over the disease when it is detected early on. Simple yet effective screenings for breast cancer are regular breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination and mammography.

Breast self-examination. At the age of 20, women should start examining their breasts for lumps, dimpling, swelling or changes in appearance or feel. Breast self-exams make women familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel and it can help them more easily detect any changes that occur in their breasts.

Many women naturally have some lumpiness and differences between the right and left breast. The key to the breast self-exam is to be vigilant if these changes persist over time, and to immediately inform doctors about any abnormalities.

For women who are menstruating, breast self-exam should be done a week after menstruation because this is when the breasts are usually least influenced by hormones and are less full and tender. Women who have had menopause should do their breast self-exam on the same day every month, while those who use oral contraceptives are advised to perform breast self-exams on the day they start on a new pack of birth control pills. Those with family history of hormone-related cancers (e.g., breast, colon, ovary, and uterus) are advised to avoid contraceptive pills.

Clinical breast examination. To ensure a more thorough breast cancer checkup and to complement a mammogram, a clinical breast examination should also be performed.

A trained medical or health professional such as a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse or physician’s assistant usually does the exam that is conducted preferably before the scheduled mammogram. The process includes inspection and palpation of the entire chest area, including the lymph node areas above and below the collarbone and under each arm.

Mammography. Another valuable tool for checking for breast cancer is through mammography. This is an X-ray test that can detect a possible tumor even when it is so small to be felt.

Women with a high risk of breast cancer and/or family history of breast cancer are encouraged to consult their doctor or other trained medical professionals about getting annual mammograms starting at the age of 40. 

However, those who do not have a family history of breast cancer can start having mammograms when they reach age 50, while those who are at low risk for breast cancer and are younger than 40 can have ultrasound of the breasts.

Women who tested positive for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes should discuss with their oncologist about beginning annual mammograms as early as age 25.

Done correctly and regularly, the self-breast exam, clinical breast exam and mammogram will ensure that breast cancer is kept at bay.

The C-Network is scheduled to hold free breast cancer screenings and lectures in cooperation with medical experts from the Department of Health, Philippine Cancer Society, Philippine Society of Oncologists, and the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology.

During the lectures, free breast cancer information kits will also be given to the participants. Pharmaceutical company Roche supports the C-Network.

For more information, call the C-Network Secretariat at 527-0478 or log on to www.cnetwork.org.ph.