Breast Cancer Screening

Did you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide? Every woman is at risk. Breast cancer can affect women at any age, though most breast cancers locally occurred in women aged after 50 years old.

Ways to reduce the risk of breast cancer

• Adopt a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, healthy diet, no smoking and no or limited alcohol consumption
• Keep weight within ideal body mass index (BMI)
• Have your first child before 30 years old and have multiple children, if possible
• Breastfeed your children, if possible
• Avoid prolonged use of oral contraceptive pills or hormonal replacement therapy

Though the above measures could reduce the risk of breast cancer, there remains no effective way to prevent breast cancer. As a result, early detection of breast cancer is the best policy.

Breast cancer can be detected early by doing a breast self-examination (BSE) and mammogram.

Young Adults (18-24 years old)

The risk of developing breast cancer in this group is generally low, unless you have risk factors such as a strong family history of breast cancer. Hence, only monthly BSE after 20 years old is recommended. Reduce your risk of breast cancer by having a healthy lifestyle.

The Middle Years (25-49 years old)

The risk of breast cancer increases with age. Hence, besides the monthly BSE, a yearly mammogram when 40-49 years old could be done. Since women in this age group tend to have denser breasts which could obscure abnormalities on mammogram, it is best that women aged 40-49 years old consult a doctor for advice on the risks and benefits of mammogram screening first before proceeding.

Continue to reduce your risk of breast cancer by having a healthy lifestyle. Avoid prolonged use of oral contraceptive pills if you are taking them. If possible, having children and breastfeeding them could also reduce your risk of breast cancer. If pregnant, your breasts can get larger and sometimes more tender as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding changes. Make sure you wear a good support bra and continue with your monthly BSE.

The Later Years (≥50 years old)

The majority of breast cancer occur in this age group. Monthly BSE and mammogram every 2 yearly are advocated. Continue to reduce your risk of breast cancer by having a healthy lifestyle. If you are taking hormonal replacement therapy, avoid prolonged use of it.

How to perform a BSE?

BSE can be performed every month after 20 years old. It is best done a few days after the end of menses. In postmenopausal women, BSE can be done on a fixed date of every month.

Follow the steps below:

If you find any of the following during the BSE, please see a doctor for evaluation.

Mammogram

Mammogram uses a low dose X-ray to detect early abnormalities in the breasts. It is done by compressing each breast between the X-ray plates. It is recommended at 2 yearly intervals for 50-year-olds and above. It can also be done yearly for 40 to 49-year-olds after a discussion with your doctor on mammogram risks and benefits.

Tips when doing the mammogram

As the compression of the breasts during mammogram could cause discomfort to some women, scheduling the mammogram a few days after the end of your menses and/or taking an oral painkiller, such as paracetamol, before the mammogram could be considered to reduce the discomfort.

Injection of fillers into the breasts for aesthetic reasons is not recommended as it can result in a more challenging interpretation of mammogram. On BSE, it may also be harder to distinguish true lumps from the lumpiness which may result from fillers injection, hence delaying the detection of breast cancer ^[1].

Mammogram booking can be made at certain polyclinics at a subsidised rate for Singapore citizens.