PINK OCTOBER
Every Check Counts in the Fight for Tomorrow
Cancer is a disease where some of your body’s own cells stop following the normal rules. Instead of growing and dying in an orderly way, they become corrupted. These corrupted cells multiply uncontrollably, growing forming a lump called a tumor. Unlike harmless growths, malignant tumors can invade and destroy healthy tissues nearby. The biggest danger is when these cells break away and spread to other body parts, disrupting their function.
Breast cancer is an unchecked growth of corrupted cells within the breast. They multiply uncontrollably within the breast tissues, forming a lump or tumor. If left untreated, these rogue, conscienceless cells can invade nearby healthy tissue and even spread to other parts of the body, causing serious harm. If breast cancer spreads, the most common places it travels to are the bones(especially the spine, ribs, pelvis, and long bones), lungs, liver, and brain. Think of cancer cells breaking away from the original tumor, moving through blood or lymph, and growing in these new body parts. These distant growths are called metastases. Breast cancer is a major health issue in the Philippines, being one of the most common cancer and having one of the highest incidence rates in Asia. A significant challenge is that most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to lower survival rates. Young women often face worse survival outcomes due to aggressive disease and later diagnosis, and factors like limited access to screening, financial barriers, and low health literacy contribute to these poor outcomes.
Key risk factors of breast cancer. The most common are being a woman and getting older. Other major causes include inherited genetic mutations (like BRCA), long-term exposure to estrogen, a family history of the disease, and certain lifestyle factors such as obesity and alcohol use.
Managing breast cancer typically involves a combination of treatments tailored to the individual, much like a multi-step plan to fix a complex problem. Management includes surgery, which aims to physically remove the cancerous tumor from the breast. Additional treatments are used to eliminate any stray cancer cells that might remain and reduce the risk of the cancer returning one of this is Radiation therapy that acts as a highly focused beam, like a powerful laser/bomb, to destroy cancer cells in a specific area. Systemic drug therapies, which travel through the whole body, include chemotherapy that uses strong medicine to kill fast growing cells; hormone therapy, which blocks natural hormones that some cancers need to grow; and targeted therapy, which uses what we called smart drugs to attack specific weaknesses within the cancer cells. The overall goal is always to cure the disease. However, if the cancer has spread, the focus shifts to controlling its growth, managing any symptoms, and helping patients maintain the best possible quality of life for as long as possible.
The prognosis for breast cancer is closely tied to its stage at diagnosis. Stage 0 and I cancers, which are small and confined, have an excellent prognosis, often considered curable with 5year survival rate of 98%. Stage II and III cancers are larger or have spread to nearby lymph nodes; the prognosis is generally good but requires more aggressive treatment with 5year survival rate of 84%. Stage IV (metastatic) cancer, which has spread to distant organs, is currently not considered curable, but is often treatable for many years, 5year survival rate is 24%. Early detection through screening is crucial, as finding cancer at a lower stage significantly improves the long-term outlook for survival.
While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, you can significantly lower your risk. Key strategies include maintaining a healthy lifestyle: limit alcohol, don’t smoke, control your weight, and exercise regularly. For women at high risk due to strong family history or genetic mutations, doctors may recommend preventive medications or even surgery. Breast cancer risk management involves proactive steps to lower your risk and ensure early detection. Crucially, it includes regular screening like clinical exams and mammograms to find cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage. For those with a high risk due to family history or genetics, more intensive strategies are used. This can involve genetic counseling, preventive medications, or in some cases, risk-reducing surgeries. This layered approach empowers you to take control of your health.
For women in their 20s and 30s, a clinical breast exam (CBE) by a doctor is recommended at least every three years during routine health check-ups. Starting at age 40, women without symptoms should have an annual CBE, along with a mammogram and ultrasound. However, if you have a high risk of breast cancer due to family history, these guidelines change. You should begin annual screenings much earlier no later than age 40, or 10 years before the age when your youngest family member was diagnosed. Regular screening significantly reduces breast cancer mortality. Women who participate in routine screening lower their risk of dying from the disease by an estimated 25% to 41% over a decade.
Breast cancer is beatable, especially when caught early. Know your body, report any changes, and follow recommended screening guidelines. A healthy lifestyle lowers your risk. Remember, early detection through awareness and mammograms saves lives. Take charge of your health and your future self will thank you.