Staying abreast of the Big C

MANILA, Philippines - With the Philippines having the highest reported incidence of breast cancer in Southeast Asia, the need to increase awareness on early detection measures and make these accessible has become more pressing than ever.

 More than just finding new ways to improve early detection methods for the killer disease, premier health institution Makati Medical Center encourages women to step up and do their part in fighting breast cancer by increasing their vigilance against its symptoms and knowing the necessary tests to take for early detection.

 Early detection is a three-pronged approach, involving self-breast examination, clinical breast examination and mammography. A breast self-exam is something you can perform at home every month starting age 20 as well as consultation with a physician for a proper clinical breast exam. A baseline mammogram is recommended at age 35, with annual studies commencing at age 40.

 Self-breast exams play an instrumental role in early detection. “Look out for a lump, a hard knot, a change in size or shape, a nipple that has changed position, an inverted nipple, redness, soreness, rash or swelling, discharge or a new pain that doesn’t go away,” Melodie Grace M. Remorca, MD advises. “Anything fluid — whether watery, yellow fluid or blood — coming out of one or both nipples is also a telltale sign that something is wrong.” Clinical breast exams are likewise helpful, as these are safe, reliable methods of detection during the early stages, which significantly increase patients’ survival rates.

   “The MakatiMed Breast Clinic offers varied tests and procedures depending on our patients’ needs,” Dr. Remorca explains. “Also, our procedures are always done by highly skilled, all-female technologists who are specially trained to conduct these tests with utmost privacy and care.”

 The common breast exam procedure, the mammogram, she says, plays a major role in early detection of non-palpable cancer because it can demonstrate changes in the breast that the patient herself or the doctor cannot feel. “It’s the best and only validated screening tool to detect early breast cancer in women with or without symptoms.”

 When breast abnormalities are detected by a doctor during a physical breast exam, particularly a mass, Dr. Remorca recommends doing a sonomammogram — a painless complementary examination used to help characterize the abnormality. fine needle aspiration biopsy, percutaneous core biopsy. and needle wire localization, she adds, are invasive procedures which may be performed to determine when suspicious lump or abnormality is malignant.

 Women confronted with a breast cyst can be treated through the cyst aspiration. “Breast cysts are common in women, and although these are 99-percent non-cancerous, they are bothersome because they are palpable or painful,” Dr. Remorca says. “While it may cause some discomfort, it ultimately relieves the patient by draining fluid from the breast cysts.”

 With the wide range of breast examinations available at MakatiMed’s Breast Clinic and the hospital’s efforts to increase awareness on these, chances of overcoming the Big C are significantly improved. Dr. Remorca concludes: “At the end of the day, our objective here at MakatiMed is to increase the rate of early detection of breast cancer, at a stage that is termed as minimal cancer or ‘curable.’”

 For more information, visit the Makati Medical Center’s Breast Clinic at 2/F Tower 2 (main building), 2 Amorsolo St., Makati City, or call 8888-999 local 3200/3201. Clinic hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays.