Breast cancer: Early detection provides best chance of effective treatment: experts

Pre-Conference workshop being a part of the "LUMHS International Conference 2019" scheduled on 23rd -24th November 2019, Department of Surgery Unit 111, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Jamshoro arranged a Workshop on "Pre- Surgical Localization of Breast Abnormalities: Minimal Invasive Breast Biopsy Techniques" at LUMHS Jamshoro.

While addressing at the inaugural session the VC LUMHS Prof Bikha Ram Devrajani expressed that early detection of breast cancer is important as it is associated with an increased number of available treatment options, increased survival, and improved quality of life. While there is no definitive method of preventing breast cancer, early detection provides the best chance of effective treatment. However, while early detection of breast cancer can help improve outcomes, there are also risks involved with any screening program. These include the chance that a false positive or false negative diagnosis can be made. When undergoing any screening test, the risks and benefits of that test should be considered.

He informed that Breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be smaller and still confined to the breast.

The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are some of the most important factors in predicting the prognosis of a woman with this disease

Consultant Breast Surgeon LUMHS Prof Ambreen Muneer expressed that finding breast cancer early and getting state-of-the-art cancer treatment are the most important strategies to prevent deaths from breast cancer. Breast cancer that's found early, when it's small and has not spread, is easier to treat successfully. Getting regular screening tests is the most reliable way to find breast cancer early.

She added that the goal of screening tests for breast cancer is to find it before it causes symptoms. Screening refers to tests and exams used to find a disease in people who don't have any symptoms. Early detection means finding and diagnosing a disease earlier than if you'd waited for symptoms to start.

Dr Kousar Rehman from South City Hospital, Dr Sana Shaikh from SIUT, Dr Khalida Nadeem from Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi & Dr Aneela Sheeba from LUMHS shared their views on the subject.

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