How breast cancer is detected
The figures regarding the increase in breast cancer cases are alarming. It is currently estimated that up to 10% of women will suffer from this disease , making it the most common cancer that women will face.
The importance of early diagnosis in the cure of breast cancer
The word 'cancer' has always generated a great deal of respect; however, from the Women's Unit we want to send you a message of hope, because, thanks to early diagnosis, breast cancer is cured in most cases.
We place special emphasis on early diagnosis, which is why the cure rate is so promising—around 100% in most cases.
But is there any way to ensure early detection of breast cancer? Absolutely.
The key to early detection
Regular checkups are an essential part of the fight against this—and any—type of cancer. Therefore, women should have regular gynecological checkups from the moment they become sexually active.
In these initial medical appointments, the gynecologist must, in addition to examining the genital tract to rule out other types of pathologies and provide relevant advice, perform a thorough breast examination, regardless of the patient's age.
As a woman gets older - from age 25 onwards if there is a family history or any abnormality is noticed - it is essential that this examination be complemented with other tests, such as mammography , which is - and will surely continue to be for many years - the gold standard for the early diagnosis of breast cancer.
This anti-cancer formulation will need to be supplemented with a second basic test, the ultrasound.
In addition, there are other tests that allow you to refine the results obtained from the two previous tests, for example, magnetic resonance imaging.
If lumps are detected in the breast , more invasive tests will be necessary:
Fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) , performed by the radiologist in the X-ray room, allow for the analysis of cells from the nodules. In cases where the diagnosis—which is not favorable—is more evident, a core needle biopsy (CNB) will be performed.
These are the tests that will facilitate the early diagnosis of breast cancer; the Director of the Women's Unit, Dr. Vidal , tells us about them and the treatments applied in the following video:
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If you found this article interesting and would like to be assisted by a professional expert in this topic, please do not hesitate to call us at 917303673 or make an appointment at the Women's Unit at the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid.