Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
For women, being diagnosed with breast cancer and facing the removal of one breast is already unfortunate enough. However, clinical doctors have recently discovered a rapid increase in cases where breast cancer is found in both breasts simultaneously, with a trend towards younger patients.
The Breast Surgery Department at Taichung Hospital has identified five cases of bilateral breast cancer in the past two months, including one patient who is only 30 years old and unmarried, yet has malignant tumors in both breasts.
Dr. Liu Huaizu from the Breast Surgery Department at Taichung Hospital pointed out that the incidence of breast cancer in Taiwan has increased 2.8 times over the past 20 years, with cases of bilateral breast cancer also rising rapidly, accounting for about 10% to 15% of breast cancer patients.
Dr. Liu stated that research has confirmed that having breast cancer in one breast is indeed a risk factor for developing cancer in the other breast. 2% of patients with unilateral breast cancer will develop cancer in the opposite breast within five years, which is eight times higher than the incidence rate in the general healthy population.
In the past two months, Taichung Hospital has treated five cases of bilateral breast cancer, with patients ranging from 30 to 56 years old. Among them, two cases had cancer cells that had spread to the lymph nodes. To minimize the psychological trauma to the patients, Dr. Liu considered the prognosis and the size of the tumors, and only one of the five cases underwent complete removal of both breasts, while two cases had one breast completely removed and the other partially removed.
Dr. Liu also mentioned that the incidence of breast cancer in Asian women is not only higher than in Western women due to genetic and lifestyle factors, but the average age of onset is also five to ten years earlier. Many patients are diagnosed with breast cancer when the tumor has already exceeded three centimeters.
Dr. Liu recommends that women, in addition to performing monthly self-examinations to monitor their breast health, should undergo a mammogram every two to three years if they are between 50 and 69 years old. Younger women aged 35 to 49 should have an annual check-up with a specialist. Women at high risk, such as those with a special family history, a previous diagnosis of breast cancer in one breast, or abnormal cell proliferation found in a breast biopsy, should have follow-up examinations at a breast surgery department at least every six months.
Rising Cases of Bilateral Breast Cancer with Younger Age Onset
The Breast Surgery Department at Taichung Hospital has identified five cases of bilateral breast cancer in the past two months, including one patient who is only 30 years old and unmarried, yet has malignant tumors in both breasts.
Dr. Liu Huaizu from the Breast Surgery Department at Taichung Hospital pointed out that the incidence of breast cancer in Taiwan has increased 2.8 times over the past 20 years, with cases of bilateral breast cancer also rising rapidly, accounting for about 10% to 15% of breast cancer patients.
Dr. Liu stated that research has confirmed that having breast cancer in one breast is indeed a risk factor for developing cancer in the other breast. 2% of patients with unilateral breast cancer will develop cancer in the opposite breast within five years, which is eight times higher than the incidence rate in the general healthy population.
In the past two months, Taichung Hospital has treated five cases of bilateral breast cancer, with patients ranging from 30 to 56 years old. Among them, two cases had cancer cells that had spread to the lymph nodes. To minimize the psychological trauma to the patients, Dr. Liu considered the prognosis and the size of the tumors, and only one of the five cases underwent complete removal of both breasts, while two cases had one breast completely removed and the other partially removed.
Dr. Liu also mentioned that the incidence of breast cancer in Asian women is not only higher than in Western women due to genetic and lifestyle factors, but the average age of onset is also five to ten years earlier. Many patients are diagnosed with breast cancer when the tumor has already exceeded three centimeters.
Dr. Liu recommends that women, in addition to performing monthly self-examinations to monitor their breast health, should undergo a mammogram every two to three years if they are between 50 and 69 years old. Younger women aged 35 to 49 should have an annual check-up with a specialist. Women at high risk, such as those with a special family history, a previous diagnosis of breast cancer in one breast, or abnormal cell proliferation found in a breast biopsy, should have follow-up examinations at a breast surgery department at least every six months.