Women asked to seek early help for breast cancer

Dr Constantini

 A consultant Obstetrician Gynecologist, Dr Dixie Constantini has cautioned women against self-medica­tion on suspicion of anything unusual about their breasts.

“A breast infection that does not go away even after using multiple antibiotics should make you worry. You should see a doctor to confirm whether it is cancer or not. Don’t keep taking antibiotics. Early detection saves lives,” she said.

Dr. Constantini said this in an interview with The Spectator as part of her public education on breast cancer.

She said the discovery of anything unusual should not be taken for granted; “it must be followed immediately with a visit to the doctor to take a look.

“Go to the hospital to be screened; stay healthy and remember that early detec­tion increases your chances of survival. Don’t take your life for granted. Don’t try to treat yourself at home because you are not a doctor. If you delay, it might be too late,” she said.

She advised women to desist from making herbalists or pastors their first point of call on suspicion of suspect breast cancer cases.

“The longer you wait, the more you reduce your chances of survival. Lots of death by breast cancer are prevent­able,” she said.

The Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist said breast cancer was one of the most common cancers found in women, adding that the fact that a person is a female put her at risk.

She said there were a couple of things that could put a person at risk of breast cancer however, but are also not au­tomatic signals that one may get the disease at all cost.

She said a person who had ever used contraceptives or used contraceptives after menopause was placed at a slight risk.

Dr. Constantini observed that carrying breast cancer genes, not ever having children, early menarche, that is, first menses or late menopause usually after 55 years, radiation to your chest wall were also risk factors.

She also mentioned the cause as having a dense breast, having children late in life (usually after 28), being obese, smoking, drinking alcohol, certain breast lesions among others.

She said some symptoms to look out for included a thick­ened area of the breast that does not go away, a dimple on the breast that does not go away, a scab-like red or white crusted surface on the nipple that become sore and does not also go away.

“Breast infection doesn’t go away despite antibiotic therapy, when the breast feel swollen, reddened and painful. If antibiotics don’t improve situation after one week, see a doctor to take a look at it” she cautioned.

She said a breast lump does not al­ways mean a person has cancer but it was important for a woman to have it checked.

Dr. Constantini said newly appear­ing blood vessels or veins were usually not a sign of cancer.

“This is a rare symptom; more often it is connect­ed to weight gain, breastfeeding or Mondor’s disease. However, if veins become more pronounced on the skin outside of these chang­es, on the breast or near the collarbone (and sometimes accompanied with a swollen arm) this could be a sign of a breast cancer tumour near the surface of the skin, drawing more blood to itself,” she cautioned.

She said if one breast chang­es size, flattened, swollen or droops unexpectedly and does not seem to be connected to a menstrual cycle, they should not be taken for granted.

She said it was also import­ant that women who were un­dergoing treatment for breast cancer strictly adhered to the treatment procedures and not allowed themselves to be distracted by others who were not medical personnel.

 From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema.