In the studies conducted by the American Cancer Society on 120,000 patients in 2018 and 2020, a 10 percent decrease was found in breast cancer screening applications compared to the pre-pandemic period. General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kinyas Kartal said, “In stage 1 and stage 2 breast cancer, our chance of treatment can increase up to 95-99%. In other words, we have a chance of almost complete treatment, but this chance decreases as the stage progresses. Therefore, it is necessary to start routine screening programs again, recognizing that the pandemic has also been brought under control. ”

In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Open Network, it was revealed that breast cancer screenings decreased during the pandemic period. Referring to the importance of this issue in Breast Cancer Awareness and Awareness Month, Yeditepe University Hospitals General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kinyas Kartal stated that screening is very important and due to the decrease in admissions during the pandemic period, a group of 10 percent of patients are at risk of getting a diagnosis with breast cancer at a later stage. 

Every Woman Over the Age of 40 Should Have a Mammogram” 

Stating that the risk of breast cancer is higher in middle-aged women, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kinyas Kartal explained the remarkable statistics on breast cancer:
“Although breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world, it ranks second in cancer-related loss of life after lung cancer. Although it is much more common in women, it can also occur in men at a rate of about one in a thousand. The incidence of breast cancer in Turkey is in line with the incidence rates in the United States and other countries. One in eight women is at risk of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer is most common in women between the ages of 55 and 60. However, there is also a risk of occurrence in all age groups. For this reason, I underline that every woman over the age of 40 should definitely have a mammogram.” 

The Effects of the Pandemic on Breast Cancer Begin to Be Seen

Underlining that the decrease in screening applications during the pandemic period negatively affects the present, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kinyas Kartal spoke on the subject as follows: 
“We observed the effects of the pandemic on breast cancer with many different studies. There are both the observations we make with our patients in our clinic and the studies published in international journals. Patients did not come for screening in 2019 and 2020 when the pandemic started. In fact, during the pandemic period, we physicians asked our patients not to come to the hospital unless they had to, unless they had emergencies. At that time, since the agenda for all of us was pandemic, we divided the diagnosis and treatment into Covid-19. During this period, the number of applications decreased by approximately 70 percent. What we wanted was a controlled retreat. With the improvement of pandemic conditions, we started to see the effects of the pandemic more frequently. In studies conducted on 120,000 patients in the United States in 2018 and 2020, a 10 percent decrease was found in breast cancer screening applications compared to before the pandemic. " 

What Causes Decreased Breast Cancer Scans? 

Meme kanseri taramalarının azalmasının birçok olumsuzluğu da beraberinde Saying that the decrease in breast cancer screenings will bring many negativities, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kinyas Kartal: “The reason we focus so much on screening is that we want to catch breast cancer at an early stage. Therefore, 10 percent of the patients will be diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage, while they will be diagnosed at an intermediate or advanced stage. In stage 1 and stage 2 breast cancer, our chance of treatment can increase up to 95-99%. In other words, we have a chance of almost complete treatment, but this chance decreases as the stage progresses. We can talk about a retreat from 95% to 60-70%. ”  

“Do Not Neglect Breast Screening Tests Due to the Pandemic”

Yeditepe University Hospitals General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kinyas Kartal made the following statements:
“Pandemic conditions were brought under control after the health policies implemented by both our ministry and the world. We have relatively controlled the pandemic conditions. Therefore, our priority was breast cancer and cancer screening again. Especially in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we ask patients to continue their previous routine screening programs, and women over 40 who have not come to this program should definitely apply to health institutions for breast cancer screening. It should not be forgotten that breast cancer is now a type of cancer that can be treated and prevented and its complications can be prevented. Therefore, in breast cancer, we are not afraid of cancer, but of late patients. Being late leads to much worse outcomes in the treatment process of breast cancer. ” 

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