PHILIPSBURG--The Health Ministry’s Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is calling on women to take advantage of the free clinical breast exam screenings being offered by clinics around the island as part of the breast cancer awareness month of activities.
The screenings are possible thanks to the collaboration of the clinics with Positive and Electralyets Foundations. Screenings will be held at various clinics on October 5, 6, 7 and 8, and will continue on a weekly basis until the end of the month.
Breast cancer is among the most common cancers in women in the Americas, where approximately 408,000 women were diagnosed and 92,000 women died from breast cancer in 2012.
The ways to detect breast cancer early are through monthly breast self-examination and a yearly breast examination by a doctor. After age 50, one should also go for mammography every two years.
CPS commended the various organisations and institutions that are holding campaigns to create awareness about breast cancer.
Breast cancer detected early can be treated effectively. Breast health awareness programmes can increase women’s understanding of their risks and of the signs and symptoms that need prompt medical attention.
Organised breast cancer screening programmes can detect cancers at earlier stages. “Most women diagnosed with early stage disease (I and II) have a good prognosis, with overall five-year survival rates of 80-90 per cent.”
Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the breast tissue multiply and form an invasive (or malignant) tumour. Not all tumours are invasive, some are benign and are not life-threatening, whereas others are called lesions because they are contained in the milk ducts and have not invaded the surrounding tissue.
“It is important to know the normal look and feel of your breasts. Things you should look out for include a new lump or lumpiness in your breasts, especially if it is in only one breast; a change in the size and shape of your breast; a change to the nipple such as crusting, an ulcer, redness or the nipple pulled in; a change in the skin of your breast such as redness or dimpling or puckered skin and a pain that does not go away,” it was stated in the release.
“Most breast changes will not be due to breast cancer, but you should get them checked. If you notice a change in the look or feel of your breasts, even if your screening mammogram was normal, see your doctor without delay. The symptoms of breast cancer depend on where the tumour is in the breast, the size of the tumour and how quickly it is growing.”
Breast cancer is both rarer and more difficult to detect in men of any age and the harms of screening mammograms are currently assessed as outweighing the benefits. For this reason men of all ages are instead encouraged to report any changes or concerns they have about their breasts to their doctor.
For more information about breast cancer, call CPS at tel. 542-2078 or 542-3003.
