Cancer is characterized as the uncontrolled proliferation of cells that result in the growth of tumors; over time, the cancer cells may spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can start anywhere in the human body.
In a normal human body, human cells will grow and multiply to form new cells when the body needs them. As the cell becomes old or damaged, they will die, and new cells will be created to take its place. However, sometimes this process malfunctions, resulting in the growth or multiplication of cells when there shouldn’t be any. These cells may eventually form a lump of tissue known as a tumor, which can be either cancerous or non-cancerous.
According to the Singapore Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among Singaporean women, with 12,735 cases reported between 2017 and 2021. We will look at the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, what screenings are available to help detect the cancer early, what you could possibly do to lower your risk of developing breast cancer, and more.
We sit down with breast cancer surgeon Dr. Felicia Tan where she discusses the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, what screenings are available to help detect the cancer early, what you could possibly do to lower your risk of developing this cancer, and more.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Singaporean women, accounting for 30% of all cancers diagnosed in women. It usually occurs when harmful (malignant) cells originate from the cells lining the milk ducts and glands. In advanced breast cancer, cancerous cells can spread through the breast to the rest of the body. However, breast cancer can be effectively treated if detected early enough.
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Your risk of developing breast cancer increases with age, with it being more common in older adults around the age of 40 to 50 years old. Breast tissue can be found in both men and women; however, breast cancer has been notably more common among women, though it has also been diagnosed in men.
Recently, there has been an increase in breast cancer diagnoses in younger women, Dr. Felicia attributes to “improved detection and cancer awareness, as well as genetic and lifestyle factors that increase their risk of breast cancer.”
Advancements in breast cancer screenings aid in earlier detection, even in younger women, and public health campaigns have raised awareness on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, which may prompt younger women to seek medical attention sooner.
Furthermore, women are having children later in life, which, according to Dr. Felicia, “may increase breast cancer risk due to prolonged exposure to estrogen without the protective effect of pregnancy.”
There are two possible methods you can use to detect the presence of lumps and bumps in your breast early.
According to Dr. Felicia, there have been several emerging screening options for breast cancer. This includes the use of AI-powered tools to improve the accuracy of mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs. These tools help detect subtle patterns or abnormalities that may be missed by human radiologists.
“In my practice in FeM Surgery, Lunit mammography AI has been used routinely and effectively for all mammograms since 2019,” says Dr. Felicia. “AI also helps to reduce the possibility of false positives and improves early detection rates.”
Various factors have to be taken into consideration when deciding the optimal treatment method for a breast cancer patient. Some key considerations include:
Aside from the abovementioned cancer characteristics, certain patient-specific factors, such as their age, menopausal status, and overall health, also play a part when deciding the treatment plan for the patient.
“Each patient’s treatment plan is unique and based on a careful balance of these factors to achieve the best possible outcome,” explains Dr. Felicia.
The goal of the treatment also affects what treatment methods are chosen.
“For early-stage breast cancer, the goal will often be the complete removal of the tumor and prevention of recurrence,” says Dr. Felicia. “However, for advanced breast cancer, the focus of treatment may shift to symptom management and improved quality of life.”
Surgery is often the first treatment of choice to remove the tumor from the patient. Depending on the size and stage of the tumor, the patient may be given the choice of breast-conserving surgery which removes the cancer and some tissues around it while conserving the breast or a total mastectomy which removes the whole breast that has cancer.
Another treatment option offered is radiation therapy which uses high-energy rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells, and chemotherapy which uses drugs to halt the growth of cancer cells.
Dr. Felicia shares that emerging treatments for breast cancer have also been in clinical trials. Such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, which show promise in treating triple-negative breast cancer, and personalised cancer vaccines which train the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.
As they say, prevention is always better than cure, and although there is no way to definitively prevent breast cancer from happening, there are still steps you can take to lower your risk of developing it.
