Free breast cancer screening at the National Cancer Institute.

Get to know breast cancer

Breast cancer occurs as a result of abnormal cell division in the milk ducts or mammary glands, leading to tumours. If left untreated the cancer will grow and spread to the lymph nodes in the ass. Before it spreads to other organs such as the lungs, liver, brain, bones, causing the death of the patient.

For Thailand, according to Globocan data from 2020, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women (22.8%), followed by colon cancer (10.7%) and breast cancer (9.4%), respectively.

Breast cancer risk factors

• Female (only 1% of all breast cancers are found in males)
• old age (It starts to become more common from the age of 40-50 years)
• Postmenopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy
• Having a history of first-degree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer Because it may be related to the hereditary type of breast cancer found.

Symptoms of breast cancer

• A lump is found in the chest (90%).
• Irregularities of the nipples include pulling on them until the nipples sink. Lymph/blood is coming out of the nipple.
• Lymph nodes are felt under the armpit (5-10%).

Therefore, if you feel a lump in your chest or arm Although there is no pain You should see a doctor immediately to quickly determine the cause.

Breast cancer screening

Because breast cancer is a cancer that is often found in women. And this is one of the few types of cancer that can be manually wrapped from the outside. Current data shows that early detection of breast cancer can increase the chance of a cure.

That is, if adequate treatment is received The 5-year survival rate for stage 1 and 2 breast cancer is as high as 98% and 88%, respectively according to the National Cancer Institute guidelines, breast cancer screening is recommended as follows .

Breast self-examination:

• Breasts should be felt every month from the age of 20 years The appropriate period is 2-3 days after menopause due to less breast tissue

Breast examination by a doctor:

• A test once a year is recommended for patients aged 40 years and older.

Taking x-ray pictures of the breast (Mammography)

• It is a more sensitive test than palpation. It can detect small tumors. It can be done in conjunction with an ultrasound scan. (ultrasonography) in patients with relatively dense breast tissue It is recommended to start a study at the age of 40, with a follow-up test every 1-2 years, or more often if abnormalities are found.

In this regard, patients in the breast cancer risk group, such as those with a history of first-degree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer who are younger than 40 years, should receive cancer screening earlier. That is, you should check from the age of the relative who has cancer less than 5-10 years.

When an abnormality is found from the screening your doctor will recommend a breast or lymph node biopsy. Using a core needle biopsy or using a fine needle aspiration to take tissue or cell samples for additional laboratory tests to determine the type of breast cancer.

information Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Mahidol University Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital Golden Jubilee Medical Centre