Early diagnosis of breast cancer is essential to combat the disease. In this strategy, it is very important to recognize suspicious signs and symptoms, both by the woman and the health professionals responsible for providing care.
Prevention starts at home
The recommendation is that women observe and feel their breasts frequently, whether in the shower or when changing clothes. With her fingertips, the woman lightly palpates the entire contour of the breast, which allows the discovery of small breast changes. When any suspicion is identified, at any age, it is necessary to seek out a gynecologist or mastologist.
- It is the imaging test that most accurately identifies possible nodules or lesions in the breast.
- Mammography is recommended as a routine exam for women aged 40 to 69 once every two years. Women of any age who have cases of breast cancer in their family should also undergo this preventive exam.
- According to the Ministry of Health, the main warning signs for breast cancer are:
- Any nodule in women over 40.
- Lumps that persist for more than one menstrual cycle in women over 30
- Nodule with a hardened consistency or that is increasing in size, in adult women of any age.
- Progressive increase in breast size with the presence of signs such as orange peel-like skin.
- Change in nipple shape.
Cervical cancer
The main cause of cervical cancer is associated with the HPV virus.
The exam consists of collecting cells from the cervix to diagnose, in the laboratory, lesions or changes that may indicate HPV contamination.
The recommendation is that all women between 25 and 64 years old, who have already started their sexual life, take tests every three years if the results are normal. If they indicate HPV infection or a low-grade lesion, the exam must be repeated every 6 months. Collection and diagnosis are available in all states free of charge through the SUS.
Vaccination, together with preventive examination, are the actions to prevent this cancer. Currently, the target age group for the vaccine is girls and boys aged between 9 and 14 years, as this vaccine is more effective if used before the start of sexual life. To facilitate and increase demand, at the beginning of April 2024, the Ministry of Health decided to offer a single dose vaccine and no longer in two doses as it had been applying in recent years.
The Ministry of Health’s goal is to vaccinate at least 80% of the target population to achieve the objective of reducing the incidence of this cancer in the country in the coming decades.
