Once Again Reminds The Importance Of Early Detection Of Breast Cancer

About 70 percent of breast cancer sufferers come to doctors already in advanced stages, this is what makes life expectancy very small. (Pixabay)

JAKARTA Breast cancer is still a serious health problem in Indonesia. The number of patients reached 65,858 cases or 16.6 percent of the total 396,914 new cancer cases in Indonesia, according to a Global Burden of Cancer Study (Globocan) report in 2020. A total of 22 thousand of them resulted in death.

This, said the Chairperson of the Indonesian Breast Cancer Foundation (YKPI) Linda Agum Gumelar, because 70 percent of patients came to doctors in advanced stages.

"If it came from the start and was immediately examined by a doctor and treated medically, then the life expectancy would be higher," said Linda in a "Peduli Awareness Since Early" with the Women's Organizational Cooperation Agency (BKOW) on March 14, 2023.

People must continue to be educated. Breast cancer is actually not a scary disease. This disease can be cured as long as it is detected from an early age.

"Especially women, don't be lazy to detect early by realizing (checking your Own Breasts). There's no need to be afraid," said oncology surgeon from Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, Agus Sutarman at a different event.

If there is a lump and during the 2 times period of menstruation it is not lost, immediately check it with the doctor.

Not necessarily cancer, maybe only tame tumors or other factors. If it is true that cancer, there is also no need to worry too much," Agus said as explained in the YKPI YouTube account.

Handling carried out from the start results more optimally. Not all breast cancer must be chemotherapy, dinar, or breast removal surgery.

From the start, the treatment might be enough to remove the tumor and some lymph nodes in the armpits. Don't think coming to the doctor, her breasts will definitely be removed, not like that," Agus explained.

"Also, don't worry when doing biopsy. This doesn't make the tumor spread, it can be known that the tumor is classified as tame or malignant. If it is tame, it can be surgery or through injection. But if it is malignant, then it must be followed up immediately. Otherwise, worry about spreading, "he continued.

Early detection by making awareness, according to Agus, must be done regularly at least once every month. To be more accurate, do it one week after menstruation.

"When you just finish menstruation, your breast glands still experience swelling, sometimes your small lumps don't touch you. If a week after menstruation, the estrogen levels have dropped so that the breast glands are not too congested," said Agus.

Aware that it can be done in the following way as quoted from YKPI's official website:

The conditions that need to be considered are changes in shape and size, bumps, pain, skin basins such as dimples, breast skin depletion, fluid coming out of the nipples, pouring milk into, and wounds on the breast that never heal,.

The risk of breast cancer is caused by many factors, both hormonal and non-hormonal. Hormonal factors include, among others, the excessive estrogen hormone which causes the swelling of the breast gland. While non-hormality can be due to genetic or family history.

However, that doesn't mean it's like an infectious disease. The risk of being affected, according to Agus, is only 15 percent.

In addition, children who have their first menstruation are faster and women who are not yet menopause when they are over 55 also have the risk of breast cancer. Including women who do not give birth and are not breastfeeding.

'ASI that is trapped should be taken. Breast milk is a good medium for germs to grow, when infection occurs, breast milk will turn into a pile of pus. Yes, it's just a risk factor," he said.

Those who already have risk factors should care more about their health. In addition to realizing it, another thing that is no less important is to adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating balanced nutritious food, getting enough rest, and exercising regularly.

"You have to be smart in managing stress so that your mind remains happy and happy. If this can be implemented properly, immunity will increase. Good immunity can reduce the chance of developing breast cancer by up to 95 percent," he added.