When it comes to cancer, the first things that come to people's minds are chemotherapy, surgery and death. Every woman who notices a lump in her breast first thinks of cancer, but most breast lumps are not cancer. Frequently, breast cysts larger than 1 cm or harmless masses of the breast called fibroadenomas cause breast mass complaints. General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Dr. Hüseyin Kadıoğlu talked about the importance of screening in breast health.
When nipple discharge and/or bloody nipple discharge is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is breast cancer. However, the most common cause of bloody nipple discharge is a disease of the breast called "Intraductal papilloma", and cancer-related bloody discharge is responsible for less than 1/3 of all bloody discharges.
What Should I See a Doctor When?
The most frequently asked question by our patients is "what should I go to the doctor for?" The most rational answer to this question would be, "Come to the doctor before you notice anything." Because breast cancer masses that patients and even doctors cannot detect can be detected and treated with imaging methods. For example, cells that appear as calcification on mammography and have not yet become cancerous have a nearly 100% chance of cure. If there is a history of breast cancer in your family, you should start your follow-up 10 years before the youngest breast cancer case. For example, if your aunt got breast cancer at the age of 38, you should start your follow-up at the age of 28. It is recommended to start follow-up at the age of 35 for a patient who has no family history of breast cancer and does not have any complaints.
Assoc. Dr. Hüseyin Kadıoğlu continued his words as follows; Another question is about breast imaging methods. Our patients want a single diagnostic method to be perfect for the diagnosis of breast cancer and to be able to know everything with this method. In fact, doctors also experience this condition, but I regret to say that such a diagnostic method does not exist yet. Mammography, breast ultrasound or breast MRI are imaging methods that have separate functions. We do not have the chance to get any of these and get a definitive and perfect result.
Do not postpone your mammography to avoid radiation!
Radiation rate in mammography is another controversial issue. We have many patients who do not want to have a mammogram to avoid radiation. However, remember that the benefits of these scans are determined by calculating the benefit-harm ratios in hundreds of thousands of patients. In other words, the benefit that radiation in mammography will give you is much higher than the harm it may cause.
Paying Due Importance to Follow-Ups is the Most Important Step for Your Health
In some cases, your doctor may increase the frequency of follow-ups. For example, having mammograms at 6-month intervals for calcifications detected on mammography, or having ultrasounds at 3 or 6-month intervals for a mass detected on ultrasound. In this case, you should know that some findings detected in imaging methods should be followed closely. These intervals are the periods determined by scientific studies. Taking the process longer may harm you. It is very important for your health that you follow these follow-ups carefully.
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