Better Life raises awareness on breast cancer
Reported December 13, 2007
Whilst many of the risk factors for breast cancer cannot be changed – such as age, genetics and the family history of the disease – there are some lifestyle risk factors that can be managed. For example, just 1.5 to 2.5 hours of physical exercise per week reduces the risk of breast cancer by 18 per cent. This was just one of the startling facts about breast cancer highlighted by American Board Certified experts from the Cancer Care Centre and Breast Clinic at the American Hospital Dubai, at the hospital’s annual breast cancer seminar for the public. The seminar took place at the American Hospital Dubai on October 20th and attracted an audience of more than 60 people.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in developed countries; half of all men and one third of all women in the US will develop some form of cancer during their lives. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer is 1 in 8, for women living to the age of 80. However, the incidence of breast cancer has reduced dramatically since the 1990s due to the reduction in the use of post menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
For women in Dubai and the UAE, there is good news; the long term outlook for breast cancer patients has never been better and the level of awareness amongst the population is high and growing, which means that women have a better level of understanding about the preventative measures that can be taken against breast cancer, including lifestyle changes and regular self examination and screening. Should treatment become necessary, there are more options available now, including sentinel lymph node biopsy – this minimally invasive technique allows the surgeon to evaluate the extent of spread of the cancer with minimal morbidity.
American Board Certified General Surgeon, Dr Paul Sayad, explained the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy and surgery in the treatment of breast cancer and especially in the detection of the spread of cancer cells (metastasis) from the breast to the lymph nodes. ‘The sentinel lymph node is the gatekeeper of the lymphatic basin and is the lymph node which is the first to be affected in the case of metastasis,’ he explained.
‘With the support of the Hospital’s Nuclear Medicine Department, a radio-isotope is injected around the tumor followed by an injection of a blue dye. Guided by a Gamma probe and the blue colouring, the location of the sentinel node is identified. The node is then excised and sent for pathologic study, if no disease is found in the node then there will be no need to excise all the other lymph nodes.
‘This minimally invasive diagnostic procedure provides a very accurate picture of the spread of the disease and indicates how best to treat it. Previously we would have had to remove all the axillary lymph nodes, with many potential complications, such as arm swelling and nerve injury, in order to determine whether they have already been invaded by cancerous cells or not,’ he added. ‘The sentinel node biopsy is less invasive, less traumatic and has less risk of complication, and also offers a better cosmetic outcome for the patient.’
The breast cancer awareness and prevention presentation was led by American Hospital Dubai Oncologist/ Haematologist Dr Andre Rizk, who listed the risk factors for breast cancer and ways of reducing these risks, dispelling the myths surrounding breast cancer, and urging women to take precautions in monitoring their breast health: ‘It’s my job to scare women a little at events like these, to ensure that we create impact and awareness amongst women about effective ways to catch breast cancer early enough to treat it successfully,’ he said.
‘Self examination is important but just because there is a change to the shape or feel of the breast, this does not mean that cancer is present. However, any change in the breast should not be denied and a professional opinion should be sought. Around 80 per cent of women presenting breast cancer to doctors are the result of self examination.’