ID :
100982
Mon, 01/18/2010 - 20:04
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https://www.oananews.org//node/100982
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News Focus: RI WOMEN'S AWARENESS OF BREAST CANCER RISK STILL LOW
By Eliswan Azly
Jakarta, Jan 17 (ANTARA) - The awareness of Indonesian women in relation to detection, prevention and early handling of breast cancer is very poor with most sufferers becoming aware of their condition only after the disease has reached an advanced stage where medical treatment is difficult or futile.
"In most cases, sufferers are motivated to seek treatment only after it is too late," a researcher at Yogyakarta-based Muhammadiyah University, Dr. Indah Fatmawati, said on Sunday in a presentation on the results of her research on breast cancer in Yogyakarta.
Therefore, according to her, early detection and treatment was crucial to make it possible for patients to suffer less and eventually to recover from the disease. "The likelihood of the disease becoming terminal will remain high as long as women are still reluctant to subject their breasts to regular checkups to detect early symptoms of the disease," Indah said.
Their reluctance had to do with their doubts over a possible infection of breast cancer if checked. "In fact, the earlier they have their breasts checked, the more successful they will be able to cure the disease if they are really suffering from the cancer," she said.
Dr Fatmawati further stressed that the reluctance could actually be solved through intensifying persuasive approaches and increased communication with the female community about the prevalence and dangers associated with the disease.
Such communicative and persuasive approaches could be obtained through mass media and intensive campaigns by doctors and authorities on the issue. "Practically, mothers and older sisters could be the main target of campaign on the need to have their breast diagnosed," she said.
Awareness is needed and early detection crucial, according to Dr Fatmawati, female youths should be aware of the benefits of having routine breast checks.
Even though the risk of having breast cancer is higher for women above the age of 35 years, the disease could also infect women at any age. "Hence, the youth have to be aware of the importance of getting engaged in a routine check-up," she said.
In the meantime, Sutjipto, an oncologist at state-owned Dharmais Cancer Hospital Jakarta said that breast cancer was the most common cancer diagnosed in women in America, but in Indonesia it was often regarded as a taboo.
When breast cancer was detected early and treated promptly, suffering and ultimately the loss of life can be significantly reduced. Women were encouraged to ask their doctors and other health care providers about mammography screening (an x-ray picture of the breast).
"Mammography is the single most effective method to detect breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt. For early stage breast cancer, there are more treatment options, treatment can be less disfiguring and less toxic, and survival is improved," he said.
As women age, their risk of breast cancer increases. For most women, high quality mammography screening should begin at age 40. As risk factors vary in everyone, each woman and her doctor should discuss the plan that's right for her. Most organizations recommend screening every 1 to 2 years; some recommend it take place every year. Screening should continue throughout a woman's lifetime.
According to him, awareness among Indonesian women of breast self-examination and mammography to detect cancer was relatively low although the disease already had been named the second-deadliest cancer for Indonesian women, after cervical cancer.
"The lump that indicates breast cancer is always without pain and therefore many women ignore the sign," he said.
Sutjipto said every woman should carry out a self breast-examination, or BSE, at least once a month, paying attention to any change in size or the presence of lumps, dents, wrinkles or other changes.
For women aged over 40, he suggested mammography, a breast-screening method using low doses of radiation to detect breast abnormalities at least once a year.
"Regular breast care including BSE and mammography can reduce mortality from regular breast cancers," Sutjipto said.
Mammography can detect lumps too small to be felt with the hands. If a suspicious lump is found, a biopsy can then be conducted to determine whether or not it is cancerous.
When women reach 40, their breasts are not as firm as when they were younger and this makes it easier to detect any lump, Sutjipto said.
He said the best time for mammography is a week after menstruation, because the breasts are softer than usual. For women below 40, Sutjipto suggested ultrasonography instead.
Although 90 percent of breast cancers are indicated by lumps, Sutjipto said there were occasionally other painless symptoms including bloody nipples, eczema around a nipple and the changing shape of the breast.
Yenny, an observer on social affairs who is a lecturer at the Padang State University, through a phone call on Monday said the reluctance of most women to have their breast detected had nothing to do with their fear to do it.
Their reluctance was closely related to a high cost for a general check-up and mammography as the level of their economy may not enable them to do the checking every often.
"We certainly could not compare with the awareness of women in American or other developed countries whereas the check up cost is totally covered by the insurance, while in Indonesia most women have to pay for the check-up at their own expense," she said.
In developed countries, the people have actually understood the importance of being covered by insurance companies just for their own health. In the Netherlands, most people are members of insurance companies, as it is a must for them to do.
Practically, women have a high awareness of the importance of having their health checked and their breasts examined in developed countries, she said.
As a matter of fact, the comparison should be directed at those living in India or countries where their government could not provide their citizens with health insurance. "But I am sure that if the health check-up cost is covered by insurance in Indonesia many women would readily have their breasta medically examined on a regular basis," Yenny said.
Jakarta, Jan 17 (ANTARA) - The awareness of Indonesian women in relation to detection, prevention and early handling of breast cancer is very poor with most sufferers becoming aware of their condition only after the disease has reached an advanced stage where medical treatment is difficult or futile.
"In most cases, sufferers are motivated to seek treatment only after it is too late," a researcher at Yogyakarta-based Muhammadiyah University, Dr. Indah Fatmawati, said on Sunday in a presentation on the results of her research on breast cancer in Yogyakarta.
Therefore, according to her, early detection and treatment was crucial to make it possible for patients to suffer less and eventually to recover from the disease. "The likelihood of the disease becoming terminal will remain high as long as women are still reluctant to subject their breasts to regular checkups to detect early symptoms of the disease," Indah said.
Their reluctance had to do with their doubts over a possible infection of breast cancer if checked. "In fact, the earlier they have their breasts checked, the more successful they will be able to cure the disease if they are really suffering from the cancer," she said.
Dr Fatmawati further stressed that the reluctance could actually be solved through intensifying persuasive approaches and increased communication with the female community about the prevalence and dangers associated with the disease.
Such communicative and persuasive approaches could be obtained through mass media and intensive campaigns by doctors and authorities on the issue. "Practically, mothers and older sisters could be the main target of campaign on the need to have their breast diagnosed," she said.
Awareness is needed and early detection crucial, according to Dr Fatmawati, female youths should be aware of the benefits of having routine breast checks.
Even though the risk of having breast cancer is higher for women above the age of 35 years, the disease could also infect women at any age. "Hence, the youth have to be aware of the importance of getting engaged in a routine check-up," she said.
In the meantime, Sutjipto, an oncologist at state-owned Dharmais Cancer Hospital Jakarta said that breast cancer was the most common cancer diagnosed in women in America, but in Indonesia it was often regarded as a taboo.
When breast cancer was detected early and treated promptly, suffering and ultimately the loss of life can be significantly reduced. Women were encouraged to ask their doctors and other health care providers about mammography screening (an x-ray picture of the breast).
"Mammography is the single most effective method to detect breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt. For early stage breast cancer, there are more treatment options, treatment can be less disfiguring and less toxic, and survival is improved," he said.
As women age, their risk of breast cancer increases. For most women, high quality mammography screening should begin at age 40. As risk factors vary in everyone, each woman and her doctor should discuss the plan that's right for her. Most organizations recommend screening every 1 to 2 years; some recommend it take place every year. Screening should continue throughout a woman's lifetime.
According to him, awareness among Indonesian women of breast self-examination and mammography to detect cancer was relatively low although the disease already had been named the second-deadliest cancer for Indonesian women, after cervical cancer.
"The lump that indicates breast cancer is always without pain and therefore many women ignore the sign," he said.
Sutjipto said every woman should carry out a self breast-examination, or BSE, at least once a month, paying attention to any change in size or the presence of lumps, dents, wrinkles or other changes.
For women aged over 40, he suggested mammography, a breast-screening method using low doses of radiation to detect breast abnormalities at least once a year.
"Regular breast care including BSE and mammography can reduce mortality from regular breast cancers," Sutjipto said.
Mammography can detect lumps too small to be felt with the hands. If a suspicious lump is found, a biopsy can then be conducted to determine whether or not it is cancerous.
When women reach 40, their breasts are not as firm as when they were younger and this makes it easier to detect any lump, Sutjipto said.
He said the best time for mammography is a week after menstruation, because the breasts are softer than usual. For women below 40, Sutjipto suggested ultrasonography instead.
Although 90 percent of breast cancers are indicated by lumps, Sutjipto said there were occasionally other painless symptoms including bloody nipples, eczema around a nipple and the changing shape of the breast.
Yenny, an observer on social affairs who is a lecturer at the Padang State University, through a phone call on Monday said the reluctance of most women to have their breast detected had nothing to do with their fear to do it.
Their reluctance was closely related to a high cost for a general check-up and mammography as the level of their economy may not enable them to do the checking every often.
"We certainly could not compare with the awareness of women in American or other developed countries whereas the check up cost is totally covered by the insurance, while in Indonesia most women have to pay for the check-up at their own expense," she said.
In developed countries, the people have actually understood the importance of being covered by insurance companies just for their own health. In the Netherlands, most people are members of insurance companies, as it is a must for them to do.
Practically, women have a high awareness of the importance of having their health checked and their breasts examined in developed countries, she said.
As a matter of fact, the comparison should be directed at those living in India or countries where their government could not provide their citizens with health insurance. "But I am sure that if the health check-up cost is covered by insurance in Indonesia many women would readily have their breasta medically examined on a regular basis," Yenny said.
