Breast cancer is a common disease both in Chile and worldwide, causing the death of 1,800 women each year in the country. It is estimated that one in ten women will develop it during their lifetime. Dr. Nicolás Droppelmann, a surgical oncologist, emphasizes the importance of mammography for women over 40 to detect early changes, as 95% of tumors detected in the early stages have a good prognosis. However, less than 20% of women in this age group undergo this exam.
Among the main risk factors are family history, age, not having had children or having had them after 35 years old, hormone therapy for menopause, obesity, and genetic mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2). While not all risk factors are modifiable, maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in physical activity, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco consumption can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.
Monthly self-examination is also a complementary prevention tool, although it does not replace mammography, as it allows for the detection of changes in the breasts that should be evaluated by a specialist.
You can read the news at the following link: https://tvcanal5.cl/en-chile-mueren-5-mujeres-al-dia-por-cancer-de-mama/