Can my GP Offer Breast Screenings?

It is approximated that 1 in 28 South African women may develop breast cancer in their lifetime. But can your General Practitioner (GP) assist you by offering breast screenings?

This unfortunate statistic equates to approximately 25% of all cancers diagnosed in South African women. Your General Practitioner will tell you that, out of all strands of the disease, breast cancer is the second most diagnosed in the world. It is also the leading type of cancer diagnosed in women.

Another alarming fact is that 12% of all invasive breast cancers occur in women younger than 45 years of age. Further, men are not exempt from breast cancer either. Although a rare occurrence, it is estimated that 1 in 1000 men may be diagnosed with the disease. Your GP will be aware of these facts and will, most likely, advise you to undergo regular screenings.

What is Cancer?   

Before we delve too deeply into this particular segment of cancerous conditions, let’s first analyse what cancer is and how many types of the disease there are. It is advisable to discuss this with your GP. However, the basics of cancerous cell development are mostly the same. Cancer may occur when normal cells in your body divide uncontrollably and spread into surrounding tissues forming growths (or tumours).

The uncontrolled division of these cells is called hyperplasia. Not all hyperplasia occurrences will develop into cancer. Most of the time, these occurrences will turn out to be non-cancerous growths (or benign tumours). Hyperplasia changes take place at a micro-cellular level in the sections of your DNA, called genes. These changes to your genes are known as genetic abnormalities.

Thankfully, your GP knows that, in most cases of breast hyperplasia (or atypia hyperplasia), the cells can be operatively removed during a procedure called a biopsy. It is important to note that, for the most part, atypia hyperplasia is benign. However, once detected and found to be benign, your GP will advise that you undertake more frequent breast screenings. Unfortunately, atypia hyperplasia conditions may put you into a high-risk category for the further development of cancerous cells.  

How Many Types of Cancer are There?

Cancerous cells can generate in many parts of your body. There are more than a hundred individual types of cancer. Cancers will usually be named after where the hyperplasia has originated and developed into cancerous cell development.

For example, if the principal development of the infected cells is in your lymph nodes (or lymph glands) which form part of your lymphatic system, the cancer is named lymphatic cancer (or Lymphoma). Similarly, should the development begin in the liver, it is called liver cancer and so forth. There are types of cancers that are named after the type of cell that generates them. The epithelial cells, which cover your skin and some internal organs such as the ovaries, for example, may be the cause of epithelial ovarian cancer.

An estimated 39% of humans may suffer from some form of cancer in their lifetime, millions of whom will successfully recover from the disease. Arming yourself with knowledge and a few of the realistic statistics surrounding cancer will increase your awareness of its existence and how it might affect your body.

Further awareness may assist you with ways to prevent it or, in a worst-case scenario, survive it. It is advised, however, that you consult your GP with any questions or concerns you may have about cancer, including breast cancer or your well-being as a whole.

Home-Performed Breast Self-Examinations

As the term suggests, a home-performed breast self-examination is a procedure where you would make observations about the health and condition of your breasts. You would examine them visually and physically, using your eyes, fingers and hands.

This procedure should be undertaken monthly in the privacy of your own home when you would have some time to conclude your inspection in its entirety. It is best to conduct your examination between three and five days from the beginning of your monthly cycle. If you have passed menopause, conduct your inspections on the same day every month. 

Whilst conducting your inspection, look for any obvious changes in the look and feel of your breasts. Check for any disparities or contrasting characteristics in their appearance and consistency since the last time you did your self-exam. The principal objective of this procedure is to report any relevant or significant changes between self-exams to your GP immediately.  

Not all professionals within the medical community concur on whether breast self-examinations are beneficial or not. There appear to be varying opinions and results on the early detection of breast cancer and the saving of lives using this procedure. However, it cannot be argued that, in many cases, early detection of cancer in any form is conducive to the successful treatment of the disease.

Consult with your GP if you feel that this procedure should be included in your normal health and wellness check-up routines. If you would like to learn more about breast self-examinations, chatting with your GP goes without saying. You can also explore here to learn more about the procedure.

Can My GP Offer Breast Screenings?

To be safe, every woman should undergo a mammogram treatment every three years. The x-ray should identify any internal problems which may warrant further medical examination. However, should you notice or locate any irregularities in between treatments, it is best to bring it to the attention of your GP immediately.

Your GP affiliated with Intercare is well-prepared to assist you with any eventuality. Intercare has reduced physical fragmentation in the location of medical services. We have brought primary care services closer together. For example, your GP will address the concerns you may have regarding breast cancer and immediately send you to radiologists for a mammogram treatment. The results will be far more expedient, and your GP would be able to continue with the next steps sooner. Your prescription could be filled on-site, all under one roof.

Intercare’s primary care centres are conveniently located throughout South Africa and place significant emphasis on preventative services. We aggressively focus on screening for the early detection of many conditions, including breast cancer. Our General Practitioners are always ready to assist you. For added convenience, book your appointment with your preferred GP online. Intercare – Leaders in Health.

Disclaimer: This article is not a tutorial. If you have questions or queries regarding any medical condition whatsoever, please consult with an Intercare GP immediately.

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