The World Health Organization (WHO) states that breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally, alongside lung and colorectal cancers. In 2022, an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths were reported. The number of people estimated to still be alive within five years after a cancer diagnosis is 53.5 million. Approximately 1 in 5 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and about 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women will die from this disease (WHO, 2024)
Breast cancer ranks first in the number of cancer cases and is also the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide each year (WHO, 2024). In Indonesia, there are approximately 65,858 new cases of breast cancer each year (out of a population of 273,523,621). Risk factors closely associated with an increased incidence of breast cancer include women being much more likely than men to get breast cancer, beginning periods before age 12 and beginning menopause after age 55, a family history of breast cancer, and genetics (Akil, 2024).
Breast cancer is sometimes found after symptoms appear, but many women with breast cancer have no symptoms. The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass, but other symptoms are also possible, such as such as a change in the breast skin (dimpling that may look like orange peel or redness that may be harder to see on black or brown skin), breast pain, a change in the shape or look of the nipple, such as it turning inwards (inverted nipple), or a rash on it (may look like eczema). (American Cancer Society, 2024). Therefore, women can proactively increase their chances of early detection of breast cancer by following three recommended steps included in the American Cancer Society’s guidelines, such the breast self-exam (BSE), clinical breast exam (CBE), and mammogram (Piedmont, 2024).
Yet, not all people are aware of the early examination, so a contribution from a medical student is needed to convey their knowledge about early prevention of breast cancer. A BRAVE (Breast Cancer’s Resource and Awareness Event) event was created to at least help the society of the Cempaka Putih area gain new insights and be able to ask directly with breast cancer survivors.
Source:
WHO. Kanker Payudara [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Oct 1]. Available from: https://www-who-int.translate.goog/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=id&_x_tr_hl=id&_x_tr_pto=tc
World. Global cancer burden growing, amidst mounting need for services [Internet]. Translate.goog. World Health Organization: WHO; 2024 [cited 2024 Oct 4]. Available from:https://www-who-int.translate.goog/news/item/01-02-2024-global-cancer-burden-growing–amidst-mounting-need-for-services?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=id&_x_tr_hl=id&_x_tr_pto=tc
American Cancer Society, 2024. Breast Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis. [Online] Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection.html [Diakses 4 November 2024].
Piedmont, 2024. 3 Steps To Early Breast Cancer Detection. [Online] Available at: https://www.piedmont.org/living-real-change/3-steps-to-early-breast-cancer-detection [Diakses 4 November 2024].