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GOING for mammograms regularly is vital for the early detection and successful treatment of breast cancer, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) said yesterday.
Women aged 50 years and older should go for a mammogram once every two years, the HPB told The Straits Times.
“At present, the screening mammogram is the most effective screening tool to detect breast cancer early, as breast cancer does not present symptoms in the initial stages,” the HPB said. Nearly 25 per cent of the breast cancers detected among women aged between 50 and 69 were early-stage cancers, the board said.
Breast cancer is the No. 1 cancer among women in Singapore, and nine in 10 of the women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have any family history of the disease.
According to the Singapore Cancer Registry Report (2004-2008), the incidence of breast cancer in Singapore is highest among women aged between 55 and 59.
The HPB agreed with the new study that better treatment and greater awareness of the disease may have a part to play in the reduced risk of death from breast cancer. It advised that women between the ages of 40 and 49 should talk to their doctor about the benefits and limitations of mammography for their age group, and make informed choices.
Agreeing that “routine” mammograms have exaggerated benefits, Dr Yik Keng Yeong, a family practitioner, however, insisted that a mammogram is an indispensable tool of diagnosis, especially if there are indications – such as family history – that a woman is more likely to get the cancer than others.
Dr Yik also insisted on awareness. Women must be “taught the importance of self breast examination (lumps, nipple discharge and armpit lumps), and to consult a doctor
when there are symptoms”, he said.
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