October is PINK

Every year October wears pink. We are in international breast cancer prevention month, the month in which organizations around the world fight to increase awareness about the disease and raise funds for research into its origins , prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

At Forall Phones we couldn't let the month of October pass without making reference to this event.

Breast cancer in Portugal

Breast cancer is a public health problem and despite not being one of the most lethal, it has a vast occurrence combined with a strong>high mortality rate, being the second type of cancer with the highest mortality.

According to the Portuguese league against cancer, every day 11 new cases of breast cancer and one An average of 4 women die from this disease. But, timely detection is halfway to good treatment andcure of the disease, as that 90% of deaths caused by breast cancer are correlated with a late diagnosis.

Breast cancer: The evolution of medicine, diagnosis and testing

Although we generally refer to breast cancer as a single disease, the truth is that there are multiple subtypes of breast cancer and each one requires specific treatment. We are all different and therefore, depending on the patient, the disease evolves in completely different ways, which means that specific and personalized treatments are the essence for successful treatment in the more advanced stages of the disease. /span>

An early diagnosis is linked to a decrease in mortality in this type of cancer and may in some cases < strong>avoid types of treatments such as chemotherapy and mutilating surgeries such as total mastectomy.

The best-known form of diagnosis and screening is mammogram, mostly performed on women over 40 years old and which allows you to visualize nodules in the breast before they can be palpated, as well as any microcalcifications.

Although the starting age and frequency of this exam are defined by a doctor, at younger ages the common alternative to mammography is to perform breast ultrasound, a harmless test that does not emit radiation and can be repeated several times a year if necessary.

There is also a complementary exam that may be essential depending on the case: Breast magnetic resonancemagnetic. This is an exam that is very important for detecting tiny injuries and provides detailed information about the soft tissues. It is commonly performed on women who havebreast implantsand also on patients undergoingbreast surgery due to cancer.

In addition to these better-known exams, early detection measures for the disease should always include self-examinationand breast clinic carried out by the doctor. Most of the time, self-examination is undervalued but the truth is that it could be the key to a timely diagnosis and a successful case.

The Self-Exam should be carried out once a month, and the best time to carry it out in women is the week after the menstrual period. Therefore, we give a shout out to MACMA, a Spanish movement to prevent and help breast cancer, with the incredible video they created that explains perfectly the importance and how to perform this test. Here

Breast Cancer and Men

Everyone knows the typical pink bow, which, as it is considered a feminine color, is a way of showing solidarity with women. women who fightagainst this disease daily. But the truth is that this fight is not just about women, breast cancer can also be part of a man's life.

According to the Portuguese League Against Cancer, around 1% of breast cancer cases occur in men< /strong>. Although the causes of this cancer in males are not fully known, there are some factors that can increase the risk of occurrence, such as aging, family history, obesity, alcoholic beverages, among others.

Nothing like being informed and aware of any unusual changes so that you can treat the disease in a timely manner.

Breast Cancer: Associations and initiatives

The importance of generating awareness for this topic is shared by many associations and institutions, therefore, in month of October we highlight two entities that will make an essential contribution in this fight.

The CUF oncology institute will organize this month free diagnostic assessments a> early onset of breast cancer, from north to south of Portugal, between the 28th and 31st of October. The CUF clinics and hospitals where this action will take place are Almada, Infante Santo, Descobertas, Cascais, Sintra, Santarém, Porto, Viseu and Coimbra.

In addition to this entity, we must also highlight the importance of the Portuguese League Against Cancer and the 5th edition of the movement onda Rosa 2019 that is being held, seeking to encourage prevention and diagnosis strong> early breast cancer.