TAKE
CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH!
Breast and Cervical cancers are curable when detected early
By being aware of the changes taking place in our body we
can be proactive and take charge of our health.
We all know that cancer is on rise in India. More
than 70 % of the population in the age group of 30 - 69 years has been affected
by cancer in the year 2010. Out of this number, 1, 93, 300 were female. Urban
women are affected by 25 to 33% of all cancers. Out of these more than fifty
percent are diagnosed in stage 3 and 4. Early detection is hence of prime
importance.
Certain cancers are more common in women. Cervical cancer is
first, most common cancer in women. Breast cancer is the next most
common cancer. It is the second most common cause of death due to cancer in
women (after lung cancer), and the main cause of death in women aged between 45
and 55.
Cervical cancer is found to be more common amongst rural
women whereas breast cancer is more common amongst urban women.Cervical cancer is more common amongst women having multiple
sexual partners and is caused by certain types of viruses. Breast cancer is
more common in obese women, those who have no children, have not breast fed,
women who had their first child after the age of 30 yrs, women on OC pills and
HRT, having a family history of breast cancer. Investigations to prove the diagnosis are FNAC/ Biopsy,
Mammogram USG Breast and sometimes MRI scan.
With the recent advances in technology and improvisations in
surgical skills, the treatment for breast cancer not only generates good outcomes
and prognosis but also a higher possibility of the woman retaining her feminity
and body image.
Breast conservation surgery is the treatment of choice in
most of the patients at BGS Global Hospitals, depending on the size of the
tumor. In this type of surgery, the lump in the breast is removed and axillary
clearance (fat in the armpit) is done, but the entire breast is not removed.
The Breast Conservation Surgery is a specialized service
provided at BGS Global Hospitals, with the advent of newer chemotherapy and
Hormone therapy drugs; treatment of breast cancer has become far simpler with much
better outcomes.
Further, TrueBeam STX, the world’s most advanced
radiotherapy technology and the first of its kind in Asia Pacific was commissioned
at BGS Global Cancer Institute, BGS Global Hospitals. This machine targets only
that part of the breast afflicted with cancer and causes least impact of radiation
to the surrounding normal tissue, thereby enormously decreasing the side
effects.
The treatment is also amazingly quicker compared to other
conventional radiotherapy machines. The technology brings phenomenal speed,
precision and accuracy. Both breast & cervical cancers cannot be prevented in
the true sense but early detection and early treatment is surely the way out.
All women above 20 years of age need to learn breast self
examination and get examined by a Breast Surgeon on a regular basis. In
addition, women above 40 yrs of age need to undergo a Mammogram once in a year
and a PAP smear once in three years to detect the disease early, even before it
causes symptoms.
Both breast cancer and cervical cancer when detected and
treated early can be completely curable. Let us take charge of our health. It
is in our hands!
The author, Dr. Jayanthi
Thumsi is Consultant, Breast Cancer Surgeon, BGS Global Cancer Institute at BGS
Global Hospitals, Bangalore
