The Sentinellamalaga Issue 65 Aug 2012

Why do I support the Positively Pink Charity ??

By Dr David Deardon, The British Surgical Clinic and Medical Lead for the Positively Pink Screening Programme As a UK born surgeon who trained in the 1980’s when dedicated breast cancer services were being established in hospitals throughout the UK I have been involved in managing breast disease for many years. The need for screening was acutely emphasized for me when 3 members of my family were affected by the disease. After leaving my post as a consultant surgeon in the NHS and joining the Gibraltar Health Authority in 2005 as their only fully accredited surgeon, one of the first things I did was establish a one stop breast clinic. This clinic identified over 30 new cancers in the first year of existence (twice the number expected from historical data) and was instrumental in diagnosing cancers earlier. Consequently there was a need for less destructive surgery and long term outcomes improved. I was the surgical lead on the GHA steering committee which has now successfully seen the Gibraltar Health Authority introduce its own breast screening service.

Breast Cancer Facts Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is one in nine and in the UK, 41,000 new cases are diagnosed each year (1% of cases occurring in men). The risk of breast cancer is increased in some patients if there is a family history (particularly on the maternal side). The risk of breast cancer increases with age and 80% of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50.

Current data indicate that survival rates from breast cancer are improving. The key factors for this improvement are increased breast awareness and early detection and presentation of breast cancer.

What Is Breast Awareness?

Every woman’s breasts are different, so becoming Breast Aware means knowing what is normal for you. Women should become familiar with the appearance and feel of their breasts during everyday life. Regular self examination can be very helpful, so make breast awareness a normal part of caring for your body. I often advise women to examine their breasts on the same number day as their birthday each month. cont’d....