Breast disease treatment

Treatment and Diagnosis of Breast Diseases

Each year nearly 13,000 women in Poland are diagnosed with breast cancer. Statistically, in our country it is the most common cause of death among women under 65 years of age. Still, half of diagnosed cases prove fatal due to too late detection of changes.

The basis for preventing breast diseases is regular self-examination and regular mammography and ultrasound examinations. These methods allow early detection of even non-palpable breast and nipple tumors.

Detecting changes at an early stage through mammographic screening contributes to a reduction in mortality by as much as one third. In patients over 50 years old, breast examinations reduce mortality by up to 35%. According to statistics, about 80% of detected breast changes are benign, but every change should undergo detailed diagnostics to determine the nature of the tumor.

It is worth remembering that most breast lumps result from natural hormonal processes occurring at various stages of a woman’s life, e.g., during breastfeeding or menopause. However, every such change should be consulted with a doctor.

All women over 25 years of age are at risk of developing breast cancer, but its incidence clearly increases only after 45 years of age.

Diagnostics

Early detection of suspicious pathological changes in the breasts is very important for the success of breast cancer treatment. Every woman should regularly perform the following examinations:

• Breast self-examination – a palpation examination performed independently by the woman. It should include both breasts and lymph nodes on both sides of the body. Special attention should be paid to the upper outer quadrant of the breast and to touching the entire inner surface of the fingers. Any lump or any change in the mammary gland should be consulted with a doctor.
• Mammography – an examination that allows detection of nodules smaller than 0.5 cm in diameter, whereas palpation examination allows detection of changes larger than 2 cm. Women aged between 35 and 39 should have a mammogram at least once, those aged 40 to 49 should have it every 2 years, and after 50 years of age every 1 to 1.5 years.
• Breast ultrasound examination allows the doctor to distinguish a lump from a cyst and to locate its position.

Benefits of Breast Disease Treatment

• The possibility of complete tumor removal without surgery
  This method allows the removal of breast lesions up to 2 cm in diameter through a single puncture with a special needle. Thanks to this method, only a needle puncture mark remains instead of a surgical scar that forms after an operation.
• Avoidance of breast deformity
  Removing benign lesions prevents breast deformity caused by rapidly growing tumors and the development of asymmetry.
• Avoidance of pain symptoms
  Removing benign lesions prevents the occurrence of breast pain associated with a growing tumor.
• Prevention of tumor malignancy
  Removing benign breast lesions can prevent the transformation of the tumor into a malignant cancer.
• Chance for cure
  Diagnosing and removing breast cancer at an early stage allows recovery and avoids a serious and difficult treatment process, and even death.