[Health Tip] Breast Cancer Patients Increased by 30% in 5 Years... "Early Detection Through Self-Examination"

In the past five years, the number of breast cancer patients in South Korea has increased by more than 30%. The medical community emphasizes the importance of early detection of breast cancer through self-examination.

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Professor Jeong Seungpil of the Breast Endocrine Surgery Department at Korea University Anam Hospital stated, "Breast cancer has no early warning symptoms, so it is crucial to undergo regular check-ups even if there are no symptoms to detect it early," and emphasized, "It is recommended to perform a breast cancer self-examination test once a month regularly."

According to Korea University Anam Hospital, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in South Korea. According to the 'Health Insurance Treatment Status of Breast Cancer Patients' released by the National Health Insurance Service on the 25th of last month, the number of breast cancer patients increased by 30.5%, from 206,308 in 2017 to 269,313 in 2021.

Early detection of breast cancer is important. When detected at stage 1, the cure rate is close to 98%, but the survival rate is less than 30% at stage 4. In the early stages, lumps without pain are often felt, and lumps caused by breast cancer are hard and irregularly shaped. As breast cancer progresses, symptoms such as bloody discharge from the nipple, nipple or skin retraction, eczema around the nipple, or palpable lymph nodes in the armpit may appear.

If abnormalities are found through self-examination or if regular check-ups are needed, a breast cancer screening should be conducted. Most breast cancer screenings are performed using X-rays, but mammography alone has limited accuracy. Additionally, since half of Korean women under their 50s have dense breasts with less fat and more glandular tissue, combining ultrasound with mammography can improve the accuracy of breast cancer screening.

If surgery is necessary, the extent and method of surgery are determined based on the location and distribution of the cancer. Recently, breast tumor plastic surgery is performed to preserve the breast's shape as much as possible and minimize scarring. If the cancer is widespread or located in multiple areas, a total mastectomy is required. In such cases, breast reconstruction surgery can be performed simultaneously with breast cancer surgery. Breast reconstruction restores the body’s shape altered by cancer removal using implants or autologous tissue.

Recurrence of breast cancer should also be carefully monitored. According to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of the Korean Surgical Society this year, 12.3% of all breast cancer patients experienced recurrence. Among those who had recurrence, 19.7% occurred more than five years after surgery. This means that one in five recurrent patients experienced recurrence after five years. Professor Jeong said, "Breast cancer carries risks of recurrence and metastasis even after five years, so long-term management is necessary," and added, "High-risk patients may need to take anti-hormonal drugs that suppress cancer growth for up to 10 years."

Risk factors for breast cancer include obesity and alcohol consumption. Professor Jeong advised, "Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, so it is advisable to maintain an appropriate weight through regular physical activity," and cautioned, "Alcohol consumption increases the risk of breast cancer regardless of menopausal status, so caution is necessary."