This is what Prof. Peter Boyle, head of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, of the World Health Organization - WHO said at a press conference of the Cancer Society on the occasion of the "Knock on the Door" operation
Hayadan
At the press conference of the Cancer Society on the occasion of the opening of the annual fundraising campaign - "Knock on the Door", Prof. Peter Boyle, head of the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization, said that in 2006, 11 million people worldwide will be diagnosed with cancer, of which approximately 10.5% will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Prof. Peter Boyle also added: "In fact, most women are at risk of getting breast cancer, especially over the age of 50, but only 15% are in the high risk group of getting breast cancer. Although there has been an increase in the incidence rate, in some countries a decrease in mortality from breast cancer is beginning to be seen, as a result of a combination of early diagnosis and the provision of effective treatment to patients, and therefore it is desirable to concentrate on the prevention of breast cancer in order to achieve a reduction in morbidity."
According to Prof. Peter Boyle, contrary to the publications that receive expression in relation to the consumption of omega 3, vitamin D and statins, as of today only the consumption of alcohol, as a single component in the diet, has been found to have a causal relationship with breast cancer.
Prof. Peter Boyle noted that: "There are steps that women can take to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer and improve their overall health. There is almost universal agreement that diet plays an important role in determining the degree of cancer risk. Also, physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer among women of all ages and avoiding excess weight reduces the risk of breast cancer during menopause. Therefore, the female public should be advised to avoid obesity, and to adopt a lifestyle that includes vigorous physical activity, every day. It is especially important that women refrain from smoking and do not adopt this deadly and harmful habit, as a means of maintaining weight."
There are no known risk factors
63% of women think that most breast cancer patients have a family background, even though in practice, 70% of women who develop the disease do not have any known risk factors. This is according to a survey conducted by the "Center for Surgery". Dr. Moshe Carmon: "This misconception may cause many women not to conduct tests for early detection of the disease"
Two-thirds (63%) of the women in Israel mistakenly think that most breast cancer patients have a family history (such as a mother who had the disease or a sister who had the disease) - while in reality, most (70%) of the women who have the disease in their bodies do not have any known risk factors. This is according to a survey conducted by the "Center for Surgery" (www.surgicalgroup.co.il) on the occasion of breast cancer awareness month.
The survey was conducted in recent days by the "Shilov" research institute, and was carried out among 194 women, who are a representative sample of the Hebrew-speaking Jewish female population (aged 30 and over) in Israel. (The results are attached at the end of the document).
Dr. Moshe Carmon, a breast cancer specialist surgeon at the "Surgery Center" at Assuta Hospital and director of the Breast Health Center at the "Shaari Tzedek" Medical Center in Jerusalem, who presented the data at the annual press conference of the Cancer Society held today (Tuesday), said in response to the findings, that "this misconception causes many women not to conduct mammography tests for early detection of the disease".
The survey also shows that only a little more than a third (36%) of the women knew that when breast cancer is discovered in its early stages, the chances of its cure can reach up to 90%.
Additional data: 14% of the women did not know at all what the chances of curing the disease were; A fifth (22%) believed that the chances were 80%; 12% thought that the chances of recovery were 70% or less; while 14% were very optimistic, noting that the chances of recovery with early detection are no less than 100%.
A more positive picture
And what about performing periodic tests for the early detection of breast cancer? Here the picture is already more positive. 80% of women in their 50s and 86% of women aged 60 and over perform periodic tests for the early detection of breast cancer.
Most of them (54% in their 50s and 63% in their 60s and older) perform a mammogram; About a sixth of them (17% and 14%, respectively) usually get examined by a doctor; And the rest usually check themselves or perform an ultrasound test.
According to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and the Cancer Society, every woman over the age of 50 should have a mammogram once every two years, and a woman who has risk factors (such as a family history) once a year before this age.
Despite this, it turns out that 67% of women in their 40s conduct periodic examinations, and even 37% of women in their 30s are examined.
"The efforts of the bodies active in the fight against cancer in Israel to promote follow-up for the early detection of breast cancer are bearing impressive fruit, and the survey we conducted shows a significant improvement compared to previous years," said Dr. Karmon at the press conference, "but there is still room to strive in efforts to increase awareness of the disease and cause as many as possible Women to be tested and bring about early detection that can save lives."
"Almost 40% of women over the age of 50 do not undergo a mammogram," noted Carmon, "which is the main and most effective tool for early detection of the disease. In addition, although follow-up by a doctor's examination is recommended starting at age 30 and about a quarter of the tumors appear at ages under 50 - only about 51% of the women in this age group reported in the survey that they were under routine follow-up."
"The situation in Israel is better than in many other Western countries," he added, "and I recommend that women be tested at dedicated screening centers for early detection and treatment with multidisciplinary teams. Breast centers exist in every city in Israel and are accessible to the public. Studies conducted in Israel showed a significant increase in the rate of early diagnosis among women who participated in one of the follow-up programs."
Cancer research expert
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