Edirne Healthy Life Center KETEM Unit Responsible Physician Dr. Meltem Sözer Yavuz stated that screening and early diagnosis of breast, cervical and colon cancer is critical for a healthy life and invited all citizens to benefit from free screenings.
“Breast Cancer Awareness Month”, which is held every year in October, aims to promote screening and prevention of the disease that affects 2.3 million women worldwide. Edirne Provincial Health Directorate's Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening and Education Center (KETEM) offers regular screenings to citizens between the ages of 40-69 for breast cancer, 30-65 for cervical cancer and 50-70 for colon cancer. Mammography for breast cancer, HPV smear test for cervical cancer and GGK cyst test for colon cancer can be performed for early diagnosis.
Dr. Meltem Sözer Yavuz, who called on citizens by saying that early diagnosis saves lives, stated that early diagnosis is of great importance, especially in breast cancer, and said that anyone with or without social security can apply for free screening services.
“Cancer is today's disease”
Stating that cancer is today's disease, Dr. Yavuz said, “We have some types of cancer that can be diagnosed early. For this, people should definitely come for screening. Here we screen for breast cancer, cervical cancer and colon cancer. For breast cancer, DNA is checked by breast examination and mammography every 2 years, for colon cancer by GGK cyst test every 2 years, and for cervical cancer by HPV smear test every 5 years. Screenings are performed within certain age ranges. It is performed between the ages of 40-69 for breast cancer, 30-65 for cervical cancer, and 50-70 for colon cancer for men and women.”
Advising citizens to perform regular breast self-examinations at home, Dr. Yavuz said, “We want people to perform breast examinations regularly every month. Because the best person recognizes their own breast tissue. If there is a difference or if a mass comes to her hand, she should contact us immediately. We do not diagnose directly with breast examination, nor do we diagnose with mammography. These are just things done for early diagnosis. Early diagnosis is very important especially in breast cancer. When diagnosed early, people can live for many years. However, when diagnosed late, life expectancy can be much shorter. For this reason, early diagnosis is vital in breast cancer as in all cancers.”
Stating that KETEM offers free service to everyone, whether they have social security or not, Yavuz said, “People can make an appointment by calling by phone or visit our center. In the appointment by phone, we have questions such as whether they have had a mammogram before, whether they are in the age range, and we can make an appointment accordingly.”
