Being Aware ofBreast Cancer

Throughout November, many activities were held to raise breast cancer awareness. Patients were told about the frequency of breast cancer, methods of prevention and possible surgical options. In my opinion, people should also be told what a breast cancer patient goes through at an advanced stage if they neglect breast examination or routine tests. We should do this not to frighten people, but to enable them to see the facts and make their choices accordingly, and to increase their motivation while making the right choices.

Breast cancer treatment is a disease that requires many specialties to work together in a coordinated way. With increasing scientific knowledge, experience and technology, general surgeons now prefer to preserve the breast in suitable patients rather than removing the whole breast. By examining the hormone receptors in the removed tumour tissue or by looking genetically at the oncogenes in the tumour, the biological behaviour of the tumour can be predicted more accurately and tumour-specific drug treatments can be started. Thanks to advancing computer technology, radiation oncology can focus the beams better on the tumour, and in this way can better protect the surrounding tissues from the side effects of ionising radiation. As plastic surgeons, we in turn can offer our patients more options for replacing the breast the patient has lost and/or correcting the disturbed symmetry, and our results can satisfy our patients more.

Despite all these developments, breast cancer is still among the most deadly cancers in the female population. In addition, even if the patient defeats the cancer at the end of the treatment process and continues her life, the treatment process is arduous and painful.

I do not know whether any of you have recently happened to pass by the Pera Museum in Beyoğlu, Istanbul. But while visiting the Museum in recent months, a painting by Müberra Delibaş caught my attention. In her painting titled Metastasis, depicting a patient whose left breast was removed as a result of breast cancer, while portraying the patient's physical condition (the incision on the chest wall, the missing breast and the baldness due to medication), she has at the same time reflected incredibly beautifully the pain the patient experiences in her facial expression. I wholeheartedly congratulate the artist, who with this beautiful work once again reminds us of what my patients go through and raises awareness.