© Reuters Breast cancer is the largest cancer in the world, early screening and early treatment are key
Lung cancer and breast cancer are two of the most common cancers worldwide. Among them, lung cancer incidence has long been the first in the past, but the latest global cancer data released by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2020 shows that the Breast cancer has overtaken lung cancer by becoming the largest cancer in the world for the first time.
In order to draw human attention to breast cancer, the international community has designated October each year as “World Breast Cancer Prevention and Control Month”.
Cancer prevention: Early screening is key
Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women. The latest data shows that in 2020 there will be 2.26 million new cases of breast cancer worldwide, surpassing the 2.2 million cases of lung cancer and becoming the largest cancer in the world.
Although the damage from cancer is great, it is not impossible to prevent and cure. Through efficient screening, early prevention and treatment, the death rate of cancer can be greatly reduced, as is the case with breast cancer. The World Health Organization has clearly listed early stage breast cancer as a treatable disease, and the key to curing breast cancer is early screening and early treatment.
Breast cancer occurs mainly in women, although men can also develop breast cancer, but it is rare. There are many risk factors that can contribute to the development of breast cancer in women, such as early menarche (55 years), infertility or late early pregnancy (> 30 years), and short duration of breastfeeding. otherwise. Such high-risk groups should be screened for breast cancer in a timely manner.
Furthermore, genetic risk factors can also be important, and cancer can be caused by genetic defects (mutations) that are passed on from generation to generation. Studies show that around 20% of breast cancer patients have family members who also develop breast cancer. About 10% of people who already have breast cancer have a confirmed genetic mutation that can cause breast cancer.
Therefore, once you find out that you are a carrier of a genetic mutation that could cause breast cancer, you should take it seriously. It is recommended that relevant high-risk groups begin mammography at the age of 25.
Choose reliable screening products
There are many breast cancer screening methods. More routinely, palpation is used to check for hard quality lumps and poor mobility in the breast.If breast cancer is suspected, further examination is required. In addition, MRI, color ultrasound, mammography, etc. are also widely used in medical examinations.
However, these tests usually only detect breast cancer and do not have many breast cancer prevention functions. Fortunately, in recent years, the application of genetic testing technology has become increasingly broad.
With genetic testing, you can find out if you have genetic mutations that cause cancer. If genetic risk factors are identified, more proactive preventive measures can be taken to avoid breast cancer. After all, no matter how healthy your lifestyle is, you still don’t know exactly what risk factors are in your genes.
For example, famous American movie star Angelina Jolie has a family history of breast cancer and was found to carry a mutation in the BRCA1 gene during subsequent genetic screening, which caused her a significantly higher risk of breast cancer. double mastectomy was chosen.
At present, Prenetics (PRE.US) has also launched a variety of genetic testing products such as CircleDNA and CircleSnapshot, which can detect multiple indicators of the body’s health, understand its genetic risk, and uncover potential disease threats.
With the subsequent arrival of World Breast Cancer Prevention Month and November Global Lung Cancer Awareness Month, it will help improve awareness and acceptance of early cancer screening among risk groups and effectively reduce the global death rate from cancer.
