signs of breast cancer

Screening  for breast cancer means looking for signs of breast cancer in all  women, even if they have no symptoms. This screening method plays an  important role in the mitigation of the morbidity/ mortality rates.  Early-stage  cancers are easier to treat than later-stage cancers, and the chance of  survival is higher. Screening for breast cancer is done by mammography  with the main objective of advance the time of diagnosis to improve prognosis through the implementation of early interventions. The  first importance is that it helps develop early detection strategies.  This is momentous in minimizing the treatment and recovery time. On top  of this, early detection accentuates the patient’s survival chances (Health resources & services administration, 2019).  The second importance is that it improves patient knowledge about their  health. The mammography and additional examination advise women to take  up the necessary course of action, which will protect them from getting  breast cancer.

The limitations, however, outweigh the benefit, with the first being  that a lack of understanding leads to increased waiting and anxiety  whenever additional examinations are needed. At least half of the women  who take part in the screening process require an additional examination  (Loberg, 2015). The exams raise depression, and anxiety. The second  major limitation is possible overdiagnosis. This  means finding something on a mammogram that is breast cancer or has a  chance of becoming breast cancer, but is such a low-risk type of tumor  that it would never have caused any health problems if left alone.  Instead, because it was found on mammogram, cancer treatment is  recommended. These unnecessary treatments are costly and patients can  suffer physical and psychological side effects (Loberg, 2015).

References

Health  resources & services administration (2019). Women’s preventive  services guidelines. Retrieved from  https://www.hrsa.gov/womens-guidelines-2016/index.html

Loberg, Magnus (2015).  Benefits and harms of mammography screening. Breast cancer  research; 17(1): 63.