Health Tips

It’s another Sunday, so welcome back to our #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth series everyone! Today’s topic would be about the importance of breast cancer routine scanning.

Before we start, make sure you’ve read our previous articles to get a better understanding of breast cancer:
 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month	Breast Cancer Awareness Month Series: Risk Factors and Symptoms

Now let's continue with today's topic: Routine Screening and Breast Self Examination.

GIF source: Tenor

Why is Screening Important?

Breast cancer screening refers to examinations and tests done to detect breast cancer in people who have no symptoms of the disease (such as lumps in the breast). ^1,2

It is extremely important for those who are high at risk, namely women who are of age 40 or above, as it allows you to identify and diagnose the disease sooner than if you waited for symptoms to appear.^1,3 Learn more about the other symptoms and risk factors of breast cancer here.

Although it is not possible to prevent breast cancer by screening, it can help in the early detection of the disease, which is crucial for survival. Breast cancers that were discovered during screening tests are easier to treat because in the early stages, the tumours are more likely to be small and have not started to spread. The sooner the disease is discovered, the higher the chance of the treatment being successful. ^1,2

Breast Cancer Screening Tests

It is recommended by the National Cancer Society Malaysia for women to be screened for breast cancer on a regular basis. ⁴ Some common breast cancer screening tests include:

1. Clinical Breast Examination (CBE).

This is an examination of the breast performed by healthcare professionals (such as doctors and trained nurses) where they will examine and feel for abnormal changes of the breasts. ^5,6 CBE is important as it can help identify a small percentage of breast cancers that are not found by mammography, which is why it is suggested for women to have both their mammogram and CBE done in the same month. ⁵

Image Source: Planned Parenthood

2. Mammogram.

A mammogram is a form of breast X-ray in which low-dose X-rays are used to generate detailed pictures of the breast. Breast cancer, with or without symptoms can be detected by mammograms. If a lump is discovered, it can also determine whether the lump is cancerous or not. ⁵ According to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, in the general population, screening mammography for breast cancer should be done every two years in women aged 50 to 74 years. Women who are at high risk of breast cancer should consider breast screening starting from the age of 30. ⁷

Image source: National Cancer Institute

Breast Self-Examination (BSE)

If BSE is performed on a regular basis, one will become familiar with how their breasts appear and feel in their natural state, thus increasing their chances of identifying any changes in the early stages.  ⁷

Here are the 5 steps to examine your breast ⁸:

A word from DOC2US

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References:

1. American Cancer Society - American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer

2. Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA) - Who should be screened?

3. WHO - Breast Cancer

4. National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) - Breast Cancer Screening

5. Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA) - Which tests are useful for screening

6. NIH - Definition of clinical breast exam

7. Ministry of Health Malaysia - Management of Breast Cancer(3rd Edition)

8. Ministry of Health Malaysia - Breast Self Examination (Breast Cancer)

Written by

Ms. Su Pei Wen