Kırıkkale Provincial Health Director Dr. Murat Ağırtaş said, “Early diagnosis of breast cancer increases the success of treatment to 90 percent.”
Provincial Health Director Dr. Murat Ağırtaş stated that breast cancer is usually malignant tumors that develop in the milk glands or milk-carrying ducts in the breast. Dr. Ağırtaş stated that breast cancer can rarely develop in the fat or connective tissue in the breast.
“27 thousand women are diagnosed with breast cancer”
According to data from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, breast cancer accounts for 23.8 percent of newly diagnosed cancers in women worldwide and affects approximately 2.3 million women annually. Ağırtaş said, “In our country, approximately 27 thousand women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually.”
Drawing attention to the importance of breast cancer awareness events held in October every year, Dr. Ağırtaş stated that this month is known for its pink theme color and a series of campaigns and programs are carried out with the participation of international organizations, non-governmental organizations and academicians.
Dr. Ağırttaş said that the aim of these activities is to inform about the general and personal risk factors that cause breast cancer, to draw attention to the importance of regular screenings and to raise awareness about the disease.
“48.3 percent of cancers are localized cancers”
Prof. Dr. Ağırtaş stated that the most effective method in the fight against breast cancer is to detect the disease at an early stage with screenings and said, “Thanks to the cancer screening programs carried out by our Ministry of Health, our early diagnosis rates in breast cancer have increased significantly. According to the latest national cancer statistics, 48.3 percent of newly diagnosed breast cancers are localized cancers. This once again shows the importance of early diagnosis of breast cancer.”
“Having received radiotherapy to the breast area”
Speaking about the main risk factors that cause breast cancer, Dr. Ağırtaş said, “The use of tobacco and tobacco products, never giving birth or giving birth at a late age, never breastfeeding a baby, using hormone medication for a long time after menopause, sedentary lifestyle, being overweight or obese, alcohol use, having dense breast tissue, having genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, having radiotherapy to the breast area.”
In addition to these factors, Dr. Ağırtaş stated that having cancer in one breast or having breast cancer in the family, especially in first-degree relatives, also increases the risk, and noted that breast cancer is 100 times more common in women than in men and the risk increases with age.
Referring to the importance of screening, which is one of the measures to be taken against breast cancer, Dr. Ağırtaş said, “Breast self-examination should be performed once a month from the age of 20, clinical breast examination should be performed every 2 years from the age of 20, once a year from the age of 40, and mammography should be performed every 2 years in women aged 40-69.”
“The survival rate reaches 90 percent
Stating that early diagnosis is critical for success in treatment and survival, Dr. Ağırtaş said, “When breast cancer is diagnosed early, the survival rate with treatment reaches 90 percent. For this reason, it is very important for our women to have regular screenings.”
“We do examination with our experienced doctor”
Stating that they provide services with the Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening and Training Center (KETEM) and mobile cancer screening vehicle within the scope of community-based cancer screenings in Kırıkkale, Dr. Ağırtaş said, “We perform mammography and clinical breast examinations with our experienced doctors and health personnel. In addition, breast self-examination training is also provided to our women.”
İHA Haber Kodu: 20241001AW298868