Breast cancer prevention

Any change in the breast should be of concern and it is advisable to seek consultation – breast pain not related to menstruation, change in the skin (wrinkling, lumpiness), change in the nipple (erosion, lumpiness), palpation of a lump, of a formation in the breast, nipple discharge.

There is no lowest age limit. Even in adolescence, benign breast diseases are found – fibroadenomas, cysts.

 The most appropriate time for women with regular menstruation is the examination by a specialist, as well as self-examination, to be carried out around the 10th day after their monthly period.

It is not advisable to perform a prophylactic examination during breastfeeding unless the patient has complaints. During breastfeeding, the breasts are altered, full of breast milk, with dilated ducts, and this interferes greatly with good imaging of the breast structure.

It is recommended to undergo a screening examination 2-3 months after cessation of breastfeeding.

Ultrasound mammography is an ultrasound examination of the breasts. It is harmless and can be performed at any age, even in pregnant women. It is the examination that is recommended for young women not only because of its harmlessness, but also because of its greater informativeness in women with dense breasts.

Mammography is an X-ray method. It uses, albeit at a low dose, ionising rays. It is recommended for women over the age of 40 and for younger women to have the findings of ultrasound examinations clarified, if necessary.

In some cases, magnetic resonance imaging is also applied.

Most cases are benign diseases that require follow-up at shorter intervals. When a finding is suspicious, a biopsy is required. A minimal amount of tissue is taken and examined by a pathologist. In other cases, more extensive surgical intervention is required.