Breast Cancer Screening

Breast Cancer is by far the most frequent cancer among women with an estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases diagnosed in 2020.  At the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.

 

In Mauritius around 1500 new cases for breast cancer & 350 deaths (breast cancer) every year Breast self examination is a simple, painless procedure that women can carry out by themselves at home, to detect any changes occurring in their breast. It has been proven to be an effective early detection technique for breast cancer. Breast self-examination should be performed every month as from the age of puberty.

 

Women, who regularly do a Breast self examination, learn to identify how their breasts should feel and are more likely to detect even small changes at an earlier stage. Women themselves discover nearly 95% of all cancerous lumps. 80% of all breast lumps found through Breast self examination do not turn out to be cancerous.

 

Doctors are not necessarily as good at finding lumps in a patient’s breast as the patient herself. Women who perform Breast self examination are likely to find lumps as small as ¼ to ½ inch in diameter as opposed to 1 ½ inches in the case of women who do not. This makes a difference of 6 months to a year in the start of treatment, and consequently, in the chances of a favorable outcome.

 

Breast self examination should be performed at the same time each month. A good time is just as the menstrual period is ending when the breasts are least sensitive.

 

Some women may put off breast cancer screenings. They may be afraid of being diagnosed with breast cancer, they might not know they should be screened, they may have a hard time finding the right health care provider, or they may have concerns about the exams. It’s important not to let these fears and concerns get in the way of your health.

 

Link to Life started the FREE Breast Cancer Screening through breast palpation as from October 2009. As from year 2014 Link to Life started breast cancer screening by making use of palpation & ultrasound machine at a minimum cost.

 

As from October 2009 up to April 2013 more than 3000 women has benefited from the FREE Breast Cancer Screening. The Breast Cancer Screening is conducted by a female doctor twice a week only on appointment basis. Whenever the female doctor identifies any abnormality, she then refers the patient to the hospital. But the patient is also free to see any private medical practitioner for detailed investigation.

 

Women coming for a Breast screening have the opportunity to learn how to perform the Breast Examination Self test.