Description

Breast Diseases Diagnosis & Treatment

Yeditepe University Hospital is always aware of the vital
importance of early diagnosis in breast diseases. Advanced diagnostic and
treatment technology combines with a highly experienced team aiming to
implement Yeditepe University Hospital’s distinctive multidisciplinary
approach.

Our specialists know that during the course of their lives, one in 8 women will suffer from breast
cancer, making breast cancer the second deadliest cancer.

The American Cancer Society’s breast cancer figures for the United States indicate that every year
about 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed in women, about
65,000 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is
non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer), and about 40,000 women
die from breast cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a
woman’s death is about 1 in 36 (about 3%).

Specialists confirm that recent advances in terms of mammographic screening programs and hormone
replacement therapy (HRT) have increased the effectiveness of treatment especially
in women over the age of 40.

The fatality rates are high in cases that are not diagnosed early. All women over the age of 20 should
receive a breast examination and USG/mammography once every 1-3 years, annually
over the age of 40; this is the most effective facilitator of early diagnosis.

Women over the age of 40 are advised to get regular mammographic scan tests even if they do not show any
symptoms of the disease. It is known that breast cancer fatality rates have
declined by 19-64% (and an average of 30%) in countries where regular scanning
is conducted. Younger women should also benefit from self-examination, physical
examination and ultrasonography.

Indications of breast diseases include mass, structural deterioration, asymmetry between the breasts
or clusters of micro-calcification. Since these symptoms can indicate both
benign and malignant disease, scan test results must be evaluated by an
experienced breast surgeon and radiologist. Women who notice the development of
any hardness, lumps or similar issues should immediately seek medical advice
even if their previous mammography tests have been normal.

Incidence of breast cancer in first degree relatives (mother, aunt, grandmother or daughter)is known to be
a significant risk factor. The risk is elevated further if such cases occurred
before the menopause and / or involved both breasts (bilateral breast cancer).

Hereditary breast cancer genes are responsible for the development of 5% of all breast cancers.
Hereditary breast cancer syndromes are observed in 5-10% of breast cancer
patients.

Two genes are responsible for 80% of breast cancers: BRCA-1 and BRCA-2. The
risk of a woman with the BRCA-1 gene contracting breast cancer by the age of 70
is 85%; she also has a 45% chance of getting ovarian cancer. The figures for
carriers of the BRCA-R gene are 84% and 76% respectively. Genetic testing is
required in order to establish the occurrence of the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 genes.

This group is advised to undergo breast examinations from the age of 18, mammography between the ages of
25 and 35, with clinical breast examinations every six months to one years and
annual MRI breast scan tests from the age of 25-35. In addition, women in this
group should undergo ovarian cancer testing once every six months from the age
of 30-35.

In Which Cases is Surgery Appropriate?

The first treatment option for early diagnosed breast
cancer is surgery. Either the tumor is excised leaving unaffected tissue in
place, or the whole breast is removed. The lymph glands under the armpits are
also removed in order to establish whether metastasis (the spread of the
cancer) has occurred. Surgical intervention allows determination of the stage
that the cancer has reached and what supplementary treatments may be required
(radiation, hormones, chemotherapy). Recent advances in breast cancer surgery
and supplementary treatment lead to excellent outcomes.