Currently, breast cancer has become the number one cancer causing the most deaths among Thai women, and the numbers are expected to continue rising. This may be due to external factors and changes in modern people’s behaviors, one of which is staying up late or irregular rest, especially if done continuously over a long period. Research reports have found that this may increase the risk of breast cancer, which aligns with the theory that maintaining a healthy body and getting sufficient sleep is one factor that helps reduce the risk of breast cancer, similar to regular exercise, which helps strengthen the body.
Besides insufficient sleep, other risk factors have been found, such as women who have never had children may have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who have many children and breastfeed for a long time. This corresponds with the current trend of breast cancer occurrence and the behavior of women having fewer children and remaining single more often. However, there are other contributing factors, such as
- Genetics, or those who have close relatives such as mother, elder sister, or younger sister with breast cancer or ovarian cancer
- Those who have received hormone replacement therapy for a long time
- Those who have early menstruation or late menopause
As well as elderly people with high body weight and body fat, who are found to have an increased risk of breast cancer because fat cells in the body affect the production of female hormones.
If you feel a lump… it could be a symptom of breast cancer
Breast cancer is often found in people aged 40 and above, but it can also occur in younger ages. Even women as young as 18 can develop breast cancer. Therefore, all women should regularly observe any abnormalities in their breasts because besides feeling a hard lump in the breast, other symptoms that can be noticed include:
- Raised skin
- Indented skin
- Newly inverted or retracted nipple
- Possible discharge of fluid or blood from the nipple
If a lump with the described characteristics is found, you should promptly see a doctor for confirmation. Feeling a lump alone may not be enough to diagnose breast cancer. Patients need to undergo detailed examinations such as Ultrasound or Mammogram+Ultrasound for more accurate results.
Generally, doctors recommend women aged 40 and above to have regular annual breast cancer screenings to detect cancer at an early stage before it grows large enough to be felt. Especially for those at higher risk, such as having close relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40, screening should start at age 35 or earlier.
Eliminate breast cancer while preserving your breasts!
Treatment for breast cancer has developed to offer more options beyond surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, as many people know. Nowadays, there is a new breast cancer treatment technique that not only removes the malignant tumor but also allows patients to maintain natural and beautiful breasts. This is…
Breast-conserving surgery or Oncoplastic Surgery
Breast-conserving surgery or Oncoplastic Surgery is a technique to remove breast cancer while preserving the patient’s breast shape. After removing the tumor, the doctor reconstructs the breast using the following materials:
- Fat tissue from the patient’s own abdomen or back shoulder. The doctor will surgically remove the abdominal fat along with blood vessels to reconstruct the breast on the side where the tumor was removed. This can be permanent because the transplanted fat still has blood vessels supplying it, similar to other organs in the body. The breast size depends on the amount of abdominal fat used. This is suitable for patients who have never had lower abdominal surgery, such as cesarean section.
- Silicone material, in cases where the patient’s abdominal fat is insufficient or if they have had cesarean section surgery before. The doctor will recommend breast reconstruction with silicone. If the patient has breasts that are too small or too large, surgery can also be done to augment and reshape the other breast to match the size.
After Oncoplastic Surgery, many patients may need chemotherapy or radiation therapy depending on the type and severity of the breast cancer. Therefore, before every surgery, the doctor will explain the pros and cons of the surgery in detail to minimize side effects for the patient.
Many women who are still hesitant or afraid to see a doctor are encouraged by doctors that current examinations and treatments are very effective. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy nowadays are not as frightening or as severely side-effected as in the past. For those who cannot avoid staying up late or insufficient rest, it is recommended to manage health by other means such as choosing nutritious food, avoiding stress, and regularly monitoring oneself to help reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamonrat Piboon
Specialist in Breast Cancer Surgery
Raktaen Breast Center, Phyathai 1 Hospital
