What do you need to know about the breast cancer?

The breast cancer ranks first among cancer diseases among women.

This pathology is dyshormonal or caused by other disorders from a risk factor group. There are many factors that increase the risk of breast cancer, for example, early pregnancy, late menarche, incomplete lactation period, genetic factor, frequent abortions, late menopause, endocrine pathologies, trauma in older age.

There are many risk factors, but there are no specific reasons. It should be noted that not every mass in the mammary gland is cancerous. In the mammary gland, in addition to oncological pathology, benign formations, such as cysts and fibroadenomas, are found, which are mainly manifested in young women.

The first stage of the study is mammography.

According to the recommendation of the American Cancer Society, the mammography is recommended to be started (for preventive purposes) for women aged 40 years, in the absence of any complaints. The mammography can visualize a non-palpable, small formation in the mammary gland, which makes it possible to identify cancer in the early stage when it is impossible to detect the mass visually or is impossible to palpate.

With the help of screening, cancer at the zero stage (carcinoma in situ) can be detected, at this stage, there is not only a chance of prolonging life but also a complete cure of the disease!

The detection of carcinoma in situ is an indicator of a quality of the screening test. Mammography is a kind of compass that points toward the studies that we should perform. Of course, ultrasound also plays an important role in the diagnosis, but the mammogram still comes first!

- Why do you use mammography and not an ultrasound?

There are a number of signs of malignant damage that can be seen only in mammography and cannot be clinically visible on ultrasound. Why is this so? Because has not yet formed a tissue, but represents a group of cells, and it can not be detected on ultrasound.

Today there are about 3 million people who have already defeated the breast cancer in the world.

The incidence of the breast cancer in Georgia in 2009-2013.

In 2013, 972 new cases of malignant breast cancer were registered, 12 of them found in men. At the end of the year, 6123 patients were registered.

34.9% of new cases of malignant tumors among women comprise the mammary gland cancers. The incidence rate has increased by 18.6% compared to the previous year.

According to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), cancer is diagnosed in 12.7 million people a year, of which 7.6 million passes away.

If no measures are taken, by 2030 this number will reach 26 million, of which 17 million will be fatal. However, according to the same organization (UICC), in 30-40% of cases, cancer can be prevented, and one-third of cancer is cured in case of early diagnosis and treatment.

That is why it is very important for people to know about existing screening programs in the country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Without health, everything loses its charm!

Wish you health!