Breast tumors are one type of disease that must be watched out for, it can be cured by treatment and implementing a healthy lifestyle. It is important to avoid breast tumors including by doing early detection. The sooner it is detected, the sooner treatment is carried out, so the chances of recovery are greater. Breast ultrasound or mammary ultrasound is a type of ultrasound that is specifically performed to examine the condition of the breast and detect disorders and various forms of abnormalities in the breast, such as cysts and tumors.
“Breast tumors are breast lumps, they can be benign or malignant. Breast tumor malignancy is recorded as the highest number of cancers in women and the highest cause of death in Indonesia. Even the incidence of breast cancer is still increasing in both developing and developed countries. In the past, breast cancer and cervical cancer were the two highest cancers, but now cervical cancer has been successfully suppressed with early detection and prevented by using vaccines, which significantly reduce mortality. For breast cancer, early detection and therapy as early as possible at an initial stage is the key to reducing mortality from breast cancer. The implementation of a healthy lifestyle such as having a patterned lifestyle, consuming healthy foods, and exercising can significantly reduce risk factors for breast cancer,” said dr. Rr. Lydia Purna Widyastuti S. Kuntjoro, Sp. Rad (K), Radiology Specialist of Diponegoro National Hospital (RSND) of Diponegoro University (Undip).
She conveyed that women from the age of 20 years old should take care of their breasts. Every month, women must do a breast self-examination (SADARI) to find out their body shape, and if abnormalities are found in their breasts (unlike the examination results from the month before), they must immediately do a SADANIS or a clinical breast examination carried out by competent medical personnel such as a Surgical Oncologist, Gynecologist, Internal Medicine Oncologist, General Practitioner, Midwife, or Trained Nurse. If the SADANIS examination requires further examination, radiological examinations such as breast ultrasound, mammography, or MRI will be carried out to find out more about the shape and type of lump. Ideally, as in developed countries and in neighboring countries, mammography is routinely performed once a year by all women starting at the age of 40 years. Meanwhile in Indonesia, mammography has not been available evenly in every hospital, but this does not mean we are silent about the situation. According to the new target, breast cancer in Indonesia is expected to be found early, not at the stage when tumors are already spread. The Indonesian Oncology Team recommends intensifying SADARI and SADANIS, if abnormalities are found in the breast then it can be checked with radiology equipment at the nearest hospital to help make a diagnosis.
“Breast ultrasound aims to see if there are abnormalities in the breast or not. If an examination is carried out by palpation of the hand and an abnormality is found, it is necessary to know more about what kind of lump it is. For example, whether it is a liquid or solid, if it is solid, where does it go, whether it is benign or malignant, so it requires ultrasound to see its character, shape or morphology,” she continued.
According to dr. Rr. Lydia, the chance of getting breast cancer in men is lower than women, but breast cancer can attack men so we have to be aware of the symptoms of this disease. In men, there are several conditions that can be suspected as a sign of a breast tumor, including when the breast is painful, a bit thick and there is a lump. So you must be sensitive and pay attention to the physical changes, for example whether there are abnormalities or changes in the breast, the size enlarged and there is a lump, or the breast is sore then it should be immediately checked.
“Breast ultrasound is relatively easy and it is available in most hospitals. For mothers and young women, if you want a breast ultrasound, adjust it to the menstrual cycle. And if you have an infection in the breast, don’t take it lightly because if left unchecked it will spread everywhere. We have to start taking care of the breasts, check the breasts themselves every month, check on the 10th day of the last bleeding day of the month. Identify the breasts, if something changes, immediately go to the doctor and if necessary we will do a breast ultrasound examination,” concluded dr. Lydia. (Lin – Public Relations)
