Early detection of breast cancer can be life changing

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, impacting the lives of over 2.3 million patients. In this type of cancer, uncontrolled growth occurs in the breast cells and in some cases it can become metastatic cancer, that is, it spreads to other parts of the body. 90% of diagnosed women are in the early stage of breast cancer, and a significant proportion of these cases have mutations in the BRCA gene, meaning the cancer develops due to genetic (inherited) causes.

There are breast cancer risk factors that are modifiable, such as alcohol consumption, obesity, hormone use, or never having children, but there are other factors that cannot be changed, such as existence of genetic mutations, early onset of menstruation, onset of menopause in old age, previous radiotherapy treatments or exposure to certain drugs. The risk of suffering from this type of cancer increases with age, however a significant increase in the occurrence of cancer at an early age has been identified, the main cause of which is the hereditary factor, since between 5% and 10% of patients They have a family history.

In the region, breast cancer accounts for 14.3% of all cancer cases diagnosed, a figure that affects both men and women, mainly affecting the latter. Consequently, on the occasion of World Breast Cancer Day, the “Knowledge is Power” campaign invites all those with a family history of cancer to undergo a BRCA test. The test consists of a blood test that indicates the risk of developing cancer and saves millions of lives.When diagnosed at an early stage, it broadens the possibilities for establishing the best treatment options for each patient.

breast cancer symptoms

• Appearance of breast or armpit lumps.
• Breast pain.
• Nipple discharge.
• Changing the size or shape of the breasts.
• skin irritation
• Nipple sinking.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Making changes in daily life reduces the risk of this type of breast cancer, without neglecting the importance of contacting a trusted doctor and inquiring about tests for his diagnosis, from breast ultrasound, mammograms, magnetic resonance and / or biopsy, where the patient is checked for the condition, and then proceed with more in-depth examinations in order to determine its location, type of tumor or extent.

“Women should familiarize themselves with their breasts, occasionally performing a self-examination, so if any abnormality is found, they should go to the specialist immediately, as an early diagnosis offers a high possibility of cure. As part of prevention, it is necessary to exercise, reduce alcohol intake and maintain a healthy weight, ”said Dr Esteban Coto, AstraZeneca’s medical director for Central America and the Caribbean.

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes help make proteins that repair damaged DNA.When mutated or altered, their protein product cannot be repaired, which generates abnormal cell growth that can cause cancer at an early age.

Breast cancer survival rates have increased and deaths associated with this disease are decreasing, thanks to early diagnosis, personalized treatments and a better understanding of the disease, yet awareness and prevention campaigns remain key tools to inform and empower people “At AstraZeneca we seek to challenge and redefine the current clinical paradigm of how breast cancer is staged and treated in order to provide even more effective treatments to patients in need, with the courageous ambition to one day eliminate this disease as a cause of death “, concluded Dr. Coto.