Catch at the start: the number of breast cancer patients is growing in Russia
The number of breast cancer patients is growing in Russia, with about 85,000 new cases diagnosed in the country every year. Doctors attribute this to late delivery or a complete refusal to have children, taking hormonal drugs, high stress levels and an unhealthy lifestyle. Hereditary mutations in some genes also play a role. Izvestia found out how to diagnose the disease at an early stage in order to maximize the chances of recovery.
The increase in morbidity
The number of breast cancer patients is growing in Russia. If 10 years ago, about 60-65 thousand newly diagnosed cases of this type of cancer were diagnosed annually in the country, today 85 thousand people are already being diagnosed with this type of cancer, Alexander Petrovsky, Deputy director of the N. N. Blokhin National Research Center of Oncology of the Russian Ministry of Health for Science and Education, head of the Department of Oncomammology, told Izvestia.
–– A similar situation is happening in other countries, and this is due to many factors. First of all, they are social: an increase in the life expectancy of the population and changes in the understanding of the role of women in society. Namely, women start giving birth later, give birth less often, breastfeed less often, and take hormonal medications," Petrovsky said.
On the other hand, he noted, doctors and scientists are increasingly understanding the genetic nature of breast cancer. Thus, people who have mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are at risk.
–"All these factors increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer, including in women at a young age," the source told Izvestia.
Elena Zhukova, a surgical oncologist, mammologist and head of the Primary Oncology Office for the Treatment of Breast Diseases at Meditsina JSC (Academician Roitberg Clinic), added that in the presence of a mutated gene (BRCA), the risk of developing breast cancer is 70%, and ovarian cancer is 30%. As a rule, this applies to women aged 30-35 years - it is possible to identify a "breakdown" by passing an analysis in the laboratory.
Signs of breast cancer
Today, breast cancer ranks first among all cancers in women. At the same time, in the last decade, it has become more common in young women, says Elena Zhukova.
–– The "rejuvenation" of the disease is primarily associated with poor ecology, an unhealthy lifestyle (lack of exercise, lack of sleep, excess weight), a high rhythm of life - as a result, a chronic stress load appears. In humans, cortisol jumps, which triggers stress hormones (adrenaline), and estrogen levels rise. All these factors increase the risk of developing breast cancer at a young age," the oncologist notes.
The most common sign of breast cancer is a lump in the breast, which a woman can detect on her own or at a doctor's appointment. At best, it is detected during a screening study - at an early stage, says Alexander Petrovsky.
––– In addition to compaction, there may be other changes on the part of the breast: skin changes, its color, a condition where skin swelling or ulceration appears. There may be discharge from the nipples or enlarged lymph nodes, but all of this, with the exception of seals, unfortunately, may not be symptoms of the early stages and indicates the need for very intensive treatment," explains Deputy Director of the N. N. Blokhin National Research Medical Center of Oncology.
Nonspecific symptoms may include subfebrile fever (an increase in body temperature over a long period of time in the range of 37.1—38.0 °C - author's note), weakness and fatigue. Although, the doctor notes, this is rare in the case of breast cancer.
Such small signs are more often characteristic of other tumors, for example, lung cancer or lymphoproliferative diseases. In any case, when they appear, it is better to consult a doctor and undergo the necessary examinations.
Breast Cancer Screening
As with other oncological diseases, early detection plays an important role in the case of breast cancer. The sooner the tumor is detected, the more likely the patient is to go into remission. So, at the first stage, the chance of a complete cure exceeds 90-95%, says Alexander Petrovsky.
–– Breast cancer screening should begin at the age of 40, from which time you need to have a mammogram every two years. At the same time, there are risk groups that need to be examined earlier," says the head of the Department of Oncomammology at the N. N. Blokhin National Research Medical Center of Oncology.
These groups include patients with hereditary breast cancer, those who know about cancer cases in their family or have identified a mutation that increases the risk of the disease. The first is recommended to start screening 10 years before breast or ovarian cancer has occurred in the next of kin.
–– For example, if an aunt had cancer at the age of 35, the patient should start screening at 25. It may include mammography or MRI of the mammary glands. This is the most effective strategy for the young," the Izvestia source notes.
Elena Zhukova recommends that all young women, regardless of their risk groups, visit a mammologist once a year, have an ultrasound of the mammary glands and breast self-examination every three months or six months.
–– In Russia, most of the detected cases of the disease are those that patients have found themselves. However, in order for a tumor in the breast to be noticeable, it must be at least 1 cm in size, whereas an instrumental examination can detect it at the earliest stage, which is called at the cellular level, and then perform surgery on the primary focus. Therefore, it is important for every woman to undergo regular checkups," the oncologist concludes.
Breast Cancer Treatment
In Russia, there are many effective ways to treat breast cancer, not only in the initial stages, but also in the more common ones. And in most cases, it will be complex: local (surgery, radiation therapy), and systemic methods, which include different types of drug therapy.
–– These include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Depending on the type of tumor and the prevalence of the disease, we choose the appropriate option for each patient," says Alexander Petrovsky. –– If all these methods are put together in a big puzzle, it turns out that we have dozens of different ways to treat patients even with the same stage of cancer. And such individualization allows, on the one hand, to achieve the best results, and on the other hand, to minimize treatment for those patients for whom it is enough to use gentle, organ-sparing technologies.
At the same time, adds the head of the Department of Oncomammology at the N. N. Blokhin National Research Medical Center of Oncology, breast cancer is successfully treated in pregnant women today, and doctors suggest that almost everyone stay pregnant.
–– That is, termination of pregnancy during treatment is not something mandatory, but rather an exception to the rule, - says Petrovsky. –– Fortunately, cancer occurs very rarely during pregnancy, but it does happen, so it is always important for women to pay attention to the condition of the breast, especially if there are changes in one gland, and consult a doctor if they suspect anything.
According to him, cancer treatment in pregnant women follows the same principles as in everyone else - it's just that some drugs are prescribed after childbirth. The results of treatment in pregnant women are no worse than in other patients with the same form of cancer.
–– And it is also important to say that breast cancer treatment is not necessarily a taboo for subsequent childbirth. Today, there are many studies that suggest that with proper treatment and pregnancy planning, young women after breast cancer can safely give birth to children and not increase their risk of disease progression," concludes Alexander Petrovsky.
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