15 OCTOBER - WORLD BREAST CANCER DAY

In 1993, the World Health Organization designated October as the month to fight breast cancer. Today we would like to draw women's attention to the seriousness and extent of this disease. Women in Ukraine are brave, tireless, and caring. Still, unfortunately, during urgent problems around them, they often forget to take care of themselves and ignore alarm signals regarding their health.

During our work at the Charity Exchange "DobroDiy" we communicate daily with mothers who do everything to make life easier for their children with difficult diagnoses. But no one has canceled the "oxygen mask rule": taking care of your own life is of the utmost importance! That is why we always emphasize that early diagnosis and regular medical check-ups can save you from irreversible consequences.

According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the mortality rate of women due to malignant neoplasms of the breast is in the first place. In 2020, 12,824 cases of breast cancer will be registered in Ukraine, and 4,998 people will die from this disease. Every fourth woman is diagnosed with breast cancer at stage III-IV when the effectiveness of treatment is significantly reduced.

It is important to remember and understand that cancer is curable if detected in stage I - in 95%, in stage II - in 80%, in stage III - in 50%. Regular check-ups at the doctor's office greatly increase the chances of effective treatment. Doctors recommend that women in high-risk groups should be given special attention. The list of influential factors is quite long:

• a close relative (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunt) has been ill;
• age over 40 years;
• early onset of menstruation (under 12 years old);
• late menopause (after the age of 55);
• continuous use of hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement
• therapy during the menopause;
• diabetes;
• overweight and obesity;
• smoking;
• alcohol abuse;
• high blood pressure
• previous breast or ovarian cancer;
• exposure to radiation sources.

To prevent breast cancer, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and to have a mammography examination in time, at least once every two years. The best thing you can do for yourself in difficult times like these is to take care of your health!

You can get a FREE consultation with a mammalogist, ultrasound, and, if necessary, mammography at any medical facility that has the appropriate equipment and a contract with the National Health Service. It does not matter where you are registered or where you live, you will be referred to any of these facilities free of charge. The list of medical facilities in your city and region can be found at https://248.dp.ua/news/1475.