Breast cancer management changed from radical mastectomy to precision medicine in a period longer than a century. The aims of these changes were to refrain from overdiagnoses and overtreatments as well as their harmful side effects and extra costs. Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and characterized by many morphological, clinical and molecular features. We now increasingly realise that a one-size-fits-all strategy does not apply to all breast cancer patients. Personalized medicine may be used for breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment. Individualized screening can decrease the number of unnecessary mammograms, additional radiologic studies, breast biopsies and false positivity rates. However, additional 15 to 20 years are necessary to reach the results of prospective randomized trials comparing low-risk and normal-risk women. We also should wait for outcomes of risk-based screening trials. The rates of overtreatment in patients with early-stage breast cancer have reached 40% in many studies. Personalized treatment has succeeded in reducing it substantially by using tumour genetic profiling and tumour receptors in early breast cancer patients. However, it has its limits and it is impossible to generalize it to all patients. New biomarkers and molecular classifications have also led to the development of novel therapies and treatment strategies. And, they can contribute to a more personalized management of breast cancer patients.
Objective: Human milk is universally accounted as the preeminent source of nutrition for infants. Surprisingly, no approved diagnostic tests are available for the diagnosis of physical condition of the breast. Somatic cell count (SCC) is a key tool commonly used in the dairy industry to provide evidence of udder health, which in turn determines the quality of bovine and cattle milk. Elevated levels of somatic cells in milk are observed during intra-mammary infectious state in bovine animals, which is due to active participation of the immune system. This constraint in humans can principally be used to study breast health.
Materials and methods: In the present study, 176 breast milk samples in total were randomly collected from four different regions of Gujarat, India. All the samples were subjected to somatic cell count and total bacterial count tests. The effect of geographical region and maternal health was studied on the basis of milk SCC and total bacterial load. Statistical interpretation of the results was done using PRISM 6.07.
Results: Breast showing clinical symptoms of mastitis yielded a high SCC (>104 cells/microliter (μL)) and bacterial count (between 105 to 1011 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/milliliter (mL)) in comparison to milk collected from healthy breast (<104 cells/μL and 103 to 104 CFU/mL). Statistical analysis reveals existence of significant correlation between the geographical region and SCC count of milk collected from healthy breast whereas no correlation was observed in infected breast milk. The study has also demonstrated that a lineer correlation exists between SCC and abundance of bacteria present in breast milk.
Conclusion: The present study could be employed to predict lactating breast health.
Myofibroblastoma of the breast is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor. We report a 61-year-old male case who presented to the orthopedic clinic with right shoulder pain. The physical and clinical examination was normal and he was referred to our clinic. Excision was performed and there were no postoperative complications.
Objective: Many breast cancer survivors have unmet physical and psychological needs. Therefore, current study aimed to evaluate the impact of a lifestyle interventions program on fatigue, quality of sleep, quality of life (QoL), and body mass index (BMI) in women with breast cancer.
Materials and methods: This randomized controlled trial study (RCT) was carried between 2012 and 2015, and included 80 women with breast cancer. They were divided into two groups via a random allocation process: 40 women were allocated to the lifestyle interventions group, and 40 to the control group. Women in the lifestyle group received dietary energy-restriction training and practiced supervised aerobic exercises for 45-60 minutes three times per week throughout 24 weeks and the control group continued their routine life.
Results: Differences between the two groups were significantly high for those who participated in the intervention group; this group reported significantly less fatigue, less BMI, improved QoL and better quality of sleep as compared to the control group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Breast cancer survivors may physically and psychologically benefit from participating in a healthy lifestyle interventions program. This program can help relieve fatigue, maintain healthy BMI, improve QoL and enhance the quality of sleep in women with breast cancer. Lifestyle interventions program may provide a non-pharmacologic adjunctive therapy for symptom management in breast cancer survivors.
Objective: This research has been conducted for the purpose of determining the cancer risk levels of women living in a small village of in Saraycık village of Ankara and their knowledge and application of breast cancer early diagnose-scan methods.
Materials and methods: 317 women were taken as examples for the study. Data were collected by giving survey forms to women and conducting face-to-face interviews. In determining breast cancer risk, "the form to determine the breast cancer risk" has been used. For breast cancer informational questions, one point has been given for each correct answer. In evaluating the data, number, percentage calculations, average and standard deviation, Mann-Whitney U (MU), Kruskal-Wallis (KW), One-way analysis of variance (F) independent sample T (t) tests have been used.
Results: It has been found that breast cancer risk is low, the knowledge level about cancer early recognition methods are medium among the women. It has been determined that 74.4% women didn't perform breast self-examination. 89.6% of women don't have mammography taken and 88.6% don't have their breast examined by health personnel.
Conclusion: In our study, it has been found that the risk levels of women are low, their knowledge about early diagnosis and cure are at a medium level and their use of these methods are inadequate. For this reason, we suggest that responsibility of healthcare professionals have to be increased in determining breast cancer risk among women and education and advisory services for this subject to be offered.
Objective: This study has been carried out with the purpose of determining the belief and attitude of women regarding breast cancer and breast self-exam and the factors which affect the performance frequency of breast self-exam and it is a descriptive kind of study.
Materials and methods: Data has been collected through questionnaire forms created by the researchers based on literature information and Champion Health Belief Model Scale. Data collection was collected via face-to-face interviews with the patients. Questionnaire forms were applied to 350 women who accepted to participate in the study. Data was analyzed frequency, percentage, t-test and x2 test with SPSS for Windows 12.0.
Results: Average age of women who were included in the study was found to be 33.25±10.27. Average point for the sensitivity sub-dimension of the women within the scope of study was 7.79±2.38, average score for the seriousness sub-dimension 23.30±5.82, average score for the benefit sub-dimension 15.48±4.03, average score for the obstacle sub-dimension was 26.34±7.64, average score of health motivation sub-dimension was 32.77±9.11 and average score for the self-confidence sub-dimension was 25.20±5.02.
Conclusion: The beliefs of women regarding the subject should be developed by providing in-service training regarding breast cancer and breast self-exam. It can be suggested that studies be carried out analyzing the effect of the attempts for increasing the performance frequency of breast self-exam of women on the beliefs and attitudes.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate Turkish and Polish female university students' awareness of breast and cervical cancers. The study was conducted in Turkey and Poland with 350 female students.
Materials and methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study's data were collected using Self-Administered Form questioning students' sociodemographic characteristics and awareness of breast and cervical cancer. Data were analysed using SPSS version 16.0 for Windows with number, percentage, and chi square test.
Results: According to the findings, a significant difference was found between Turkish and Polish students on knowing and applying Breast Self-Exam (BSE) (p<0.05). No difference was found between the two student groups on considering mammography as required. 81.1% of Turkish and 68.1% of Polish students considered Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) as required; the difference was significant. A significantly higher number of Turkish students knew high-fat diet, overweight, first childbirth at advanced ages, and not having given birth as risk factors, while a higher number of Polish students knew using oral contraceptive as risk factor for breast cancer. A significantly higher number of Turkish students knew cancer history in family, Human Papilloma Virus, smoking, immunodeficiency, overweight, three or more full-term pregnancies, the first pregnancy at advanced ages, and poverty as risk factors for cervical cancer. A greater number of Polish students only knew using oral contraceptive as a risk factor; the difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Results of this study showed that breast and cervix cancer awareness is similar among university students in both countries.