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Breast cancer typically does not cause pain, and the lump is firm, fixed, and does not move easily, similar to a forehead bump. A lump that feels soft and movable, like the tip of the nose, is more likely to be a benign tumor such as a simple cyst or fibroadenoma. Other symptoms of breast cancer include changes in skin color of the breast, dermatitis and ulcers, deformity of the breast shape, nipple retraction, nipple contraction, and bloody nipple discharge. Lymph nodes that have metastasized to the armpit can also be palpable.
Recently, the incidence of breast cancer has been increasing among people in their 20s and those over 70. According to national cancer statistics, in 2020, breast cancer was the most common cancer among women in our country, with an incidence rate of 21%, ranking first, followed by thyroid cancer at 18.5%. It was found that 96.5 out of 100,000 people develop breast cancer. Recently, the proportion of stage 1 breast cancer has increased by 62.4%, emphasizing the importance of early detection. The survival rate for Koreans with breast cancer is 95.6% over five years for stage 1 cases where the cancer is confined to the breast without axillary lymph node metastasis and is less than 1cm in size, but it sharply decreases to 28.2% in stage 4.
Groups with a very high relative risk of breast cancer include those with dense breast tissue on mammography, women in their 40s and 50s, patients with a history of breast cancer, patients with two or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer, and patients with breast cancer-related genes. Groups with a high relative risk of breast cancer include those exposed to large amounts of radiation to the breast or chest at a young age, those with high bone mineral density after menopause, those with late first childbirth or no childbirth, those with no pregnancy experience or no breastfeeding experience, postmenopausal obesity, and excessive fat intake.
The methods of breast cancer examination are, first, X-ray mammography. This examination method is simple and is performed at all hospitals and clinics. Women in Korea have a high proportion of dense breasts, making breast cancer detection difficult. Women of reproductive age who need to undergo mammography should have the scan 3 to 4 days after menstruation. Second, breast ultrasound examination. This method is useful for distinguishing between cystic and solid masses in the breast, and it is simple and inexpensive. Additionally, suspicious tumors detected during the examination can be biopsied. Ultrasound is recommended for women in their 20s and 30s, pregnant women, or women with high breast density.
The screening interval for breast cancer is every 1 to 2 years starting at age 40 with clinical examination, and from age 50 onwards, annual mammography and ultrasound examinations are performed. Self-examination is important for breast cancer, and premenopausal women should palpate their breasts 3 to 4 days after their period ends each month, while postmenopausal women should palpate once a month.
To prevent breast cancer, it is recommended to undergo mammography every two years at minimum, and if the breasts have high density, to have an ultrasound examination annually. This is the best way to detect early breast cancer.
