The fight against breast cancer is celebrated worldwide every October, but at BMI we wear pink every day. We design policies that protect your health and also, we are committed to prevention. We join this fight remembering the lives of the brave women who once fought, those who today find themselves diagnosed against it and for all those who will overcome it.
Medical appointment
No one wants to hear bad news in a doctor's office, yet more and more women are dealing with the world's second deadliest disease: breast cancer.
There are different diagnoses and each life story is undoubtedly different, but bravery and courage is repeated in each one of them.
You can visit an oncologist for annual control, because a friend prevented and lived or because there is a medical history in your family to investigate. Whatever the reason, it's the right one and we encourage you to be vigilant!
cancer can be prevented
Vaccination (against hepatitis B and papillomavirus)
Reducing the use of tobacco (causing 25% of cancer deaths)
Eliminating alcohol consumption
Changing diets deficient in fruits, vegetables, high in red and processed meat
Physical inactivity, overweight and obesity
Avoiding exposure to carcinogens in the workplace.
Reference: https://www.paho.org/es/noticias/4-2-2022-ops-llama-ampliar-acceso-atencion-cancer-para-salvar-vidas.
Periodic reviews
Breast ultrasound
this study is safe and can be performed at any age and even during pregnancy.
Mammogram
With current equipment, irradiation has been significantly reduced. It is recommended to start at age 40 every two years until age 50 and every year after that age. This rule may vary if there are risk factors and the doctor may advise more frequency or start at earlier ages.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
reserved for special cases in pregnancy, use of implants or if necessary the doctor indicates it at any age.
Reference: https://raquelporlavida.blogspot.com
/2022/09/octobermas-alla-del-self-exam.html
Tests and Treatments
Breast cancer is treated in several ways. This depends on the type of breast cancer and the degree of spread. People with breast cancer often receive more than one type of treatment.
Surgery:
An operation in which doctors cut out cancerous tissue.
Chemotherapy:
Special drugs are used to shrink or kill cancer cells. These drugs can be pills you take or drugs injected into your veins, or sometimes both.
Hormone therapy:
It stops cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.
Biological therapy:
It works with your body's immune system to help it fight cancer cells or control side effects caused by other cancer treatments. Side effects are the way your body reacts to medicines or other treatments.
Radiotherapy:
High-energy rays (similar to X-rays) are used to kill cancer cells.
Statistics and survival
However, with early detection and treatment,
you can improve your chance of survival.
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in American women, after lung cancer.
In Latin America, the overall five-year survival rate for breast cancer ranges from 70%, below the European Union reference value of 80%, largely attributed to late diagnosis.
While the five-year survival rate for women, when breast cancer is diagnosed early, is 99%, compared to 27% for cases diagnosed in advanced stages.
Reference: https://consultorsalud.com/cancer-de-mama-reporto-mayor-prevalencia-en-el-ultimo-ano-en-america-latina/
However, the number of women who have died from breast cancer has dropped from 42% between 1989 and 2019 thanks to early detection and improvements in treatment.
As a result, more than 431,800 breast cancer deaths were prevented during that period.
In Colombia, 54% underwent mammography studies, while in Chile, Costa Rica and Argentina the figure was between 32 and 46%, and in Mexico it only reached 22%.
Likewise, the speakers at the event highlighted that in Latin America they do not have enough mammography equipment and in some areas up to 20% of the equipment needs repairs.
Therefore, it is estimated that between 30 and 40% of the cases of breast cancer in Latin American countries are diagnosed in a metastatic stage III and IV. In the case of Mexico, Colombia and Peru, this rate rises to 40-50%, according to the statistics presented at the event held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with the assistance of oncologists and other health specialists, pharmaceutical executives, patients and 82 journalists from the region.
However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), to reduce mortality from cancer, 70% of the target population should undergo mammograms, and none of the 12 Latin American countries included in a recent study come close to this percentage. .
Reference: https://consultorsalud.com/cancer-de-mama-reporto-mayor-prevalencia-en-el-ultimo-ano-en-america-latina/
