FPAI Nagaland branch organises webinar on breast cancer

Dimapur, Sep. 8 (EMN): Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), Nagaland branch organised a webinar on “Breast Cancer” with Dr. Noune Terhase, consultant obstetrics and gynecologist as the resource person.

An update from FPAI, Nagaland branch, informed that Dr. Terhase told the participants that the exact cause of breast cancer remains unclear but there are many risk factors, and it can occur in both men and women, though far more common in the latter.

She informed that “the risk factor of breast cancer includes age, genetic, family history of breast cancer, radiation for some diseases or tumours, personal history of cancer, early onset of menstruation and late menopause, child birth at late age, long term use of oral contraceptive, consuming alcohol and smoking, overweight or obesity. Breast feeding is very productive and reduces the risk for breast cancer”.

She mentioned that early symptoms of breast cancer includes development of lumps or swelling in the breast or armpits, dimple in the breast, a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple, pain on chest and breast.

She added that breast cancer is divided into five stages and that ‘if the cancer is detected in early stages, there is good survival rate but in advance stage, that is stage 4, the survival rate is only 10/ 20’.

The doctor explained the triple test of breast cancer, referring it to as three diagnostic components, and emphasised on “breast self-examination which is an important way to find a breast cancer early, when it’s more likely to be treated successfully”.

 “Every woman after reaching the age of 40 years should go for breast screening as recommended by American Council Society,” Dr. Terhase stated, adding that mammography is the only screening method that has been proven to decrease the mortality of breast cancer.

She went on to mention some ‘guidelines to prevent breast cancers, such as regular exercise, healthy diet, not to use hormonal pills for more than 10 years, avoid intake of alcohol and smoking, avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation and encouraged on breast screening which she stated as the key for early detection of breast abnormalities’.