What Should Be Done to Prevent Breast Cancer?

General Surgery and Surgical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Sıtkı Gürkan Yetkin gave important information about the subject.

The incidence of breast cancer, which is the most common cancer in women, increases rapidly after the age of 30. The cause of breast cancer is unknown. However, there are risk factors that can lead to breast cancer. Risk factors are reasons that increase a person's likelihood of developing breast cancer compared to normal.

Among them;

• Familial (genetic) reasons,
• Hormonal reasons,
• Previous radiation to the chest area

are the most important.

Familial (genetic) tendency is observed in 5-10% of all breast cancers. The most common cause of genetic breast cancer is genetic mutation in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. For people with the BRCA mutation, the risk of breast cancer is up to 80%. Taking genetic counseling and looking for BRCA mutations if necessary will be effective in the prevention of breast cancer for those who have first and second degree relatives in their family who have breast cancer at a young age.

In order to reduce hormonal causes, it is necessary to eat a balanced diet, limit alcohol intake and avoid long-term use of birth control drugs.

Although breast cancer cannot be prevented completely, it is often possible to prevent breast cancer from harming the person. The most important point in breast cancer is the detection and treatment of breast cancer without symptoms (without causing hardness). In this case, only the cancerous tissue is removed and the breast is not required. For this reason, breast cancer is tried to be detected at an early stage by taking a breast film for all women over a certain age. This is called screening mammography. With mammography, a breast cancer can be detected 3-4 years before it forms a mass.

From the age of 40, a general surgery specialist should be examined and mammography should be done once a year. If necessary, breast ultrasonography and breast MRI can be added to mammography.