Breast cancer can be cured if detected early
The most common cancers in women are thyroid cancer and breast cancer. In addition, as the age of childbearing increases and high-fat diets such as fast food increase, the incidence rate has been on the rise for 20 years. Breast cancer is a disease that greatly reduces the quality of life, accompanied by psychological problems such as depression and anxiety disorders, in 1 out of 5 patients, as there is a risk of losing the breast, a symbol of women if treatment is delayed. However, if detected early, it is also cancer with a very high rate of treatment and survival. I met Kim Do-il, Director of the Breast Center at MizMedi Hospital, and learned about breast cancer.
Q. MEDIEUS Queen: Hello. Please introduce yourself and MizMedi Hospital.
A. Kim Do-il, Head of Breast Center at MizMedi Hospital (hereafter Kim Do-il): I graduated from Yonsei University, College of Medicine. After I completed a resident at Severance Hospital and a breast surgery instructor at Gangnam Severance Hospital, I have worked at MizMedi Hospital for 20 years since it was opened. As the first obstetrics and gynecology specialist hospital to receive JCI international accreditation, MizMedi Hospital is a general hospital and obstetrics and gynecology specialist hospital specializing in women's health of all ages for pregnancy, childbirth, and menopausal diseases. Since 2003, the Breast Center of MizMedi Hospital has held breast cancer lectures twice a year
to raise awareness of breast cancer in the community, and organized and sponsored the Breast Cancer Association, a group of breast cancer patients, to promote a healthy life after surgery.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: Awareness of the disease has increased due to breast cancer campaigns such as the October Breast Cancer Month event, but the incidence rate continues to rise and is at a high level. Is the cause of breast cancer related to modern lifestyles such as obesity?
A. Kim Do-il: Over the past 20 years, the incidence of breast cancer has been continuously increasing. The incidence of breast cancer rose from 25 per 100,000 in 2000 to 60 in 2016. Female hormones are the most important cause of breast cancer, directly related to pregnancy and childbirth, increased hormone treatment after menopause, and indirectly to environmental factors such as lifestyle and dietary factors. Naturally, high-fat diets such as fast food have increased over the past 20 years, and as the average age of marriage has gradually increased, the average marriage age is over 30 years old as of 2018, childbirth is delayed proportionally and fertility rate is declining. It affects hormones and contributes to the increase in breast cancer.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: Recently, the rate of breast cancer not only in elderly patients but also in young women is increasing. In this case, are there any problems with pregnancy or childbirth due to breast cancer treatment?
A. Kim Do-il: The incidence of breast cancer in Korea is highest in people in their 40s and 50s, and then gradually decreases in their 60s and 70s. The incidence of breast cancer in your 20s is very small, but it starts to increase suddenly in your 30s. Breast cancer in young women progresses very quickly, and the possibility of heritability is high, so stronger chemotherapy is considered. These medications can affect ovarian function, making it more likely that pregnancy will be difficult. Therefore, in the case of young women considering childbirth, it is recommended to actively prepare for the future by collecting part of the ovary or eggs before breast cancer treatment or freezing fertilized eggs in advance, or indirectly reducing ovarian function before chemotherapy to reduce the impact of anticancer drugs.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: Does the treatment method differ depending on the type of breast cancer?
A. Kim Do-il: The types of breast cancer are divided into ductal cancer and papillary carcinoma according to the type of cancer seen under a microscope, but it does not significantly affect treatment. Recently, molecular types are classified according to gene expression patterns to reflect in treatment. According to the classification of whether the molecular structure of breast cancer has a specific substance or not, the most effective method such as targeted therapy or chemotherapy is selected and treated. Treatment methods can be largely divided into local treatment and systemic treatment, which are treated in various ways depending on the type, stage, and metastasis of breast cancer.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: According to a survey, about 40% of patients suffer from depression due to the loss of having their breasts, a symbol of women, cut open. Do I have to have a mastectomy in case of an outbreak?
A. Kim Do-il: The surgical method is determined by the size and location of the breast cancer. Recently, removal of the entire breast is only 20-30%, and most women maintain their breast shape through breast-conserving surgery. Of course, there are definitely cases where the entire breast must be removed, and patients consider reconstruction in this case.
There is simultaneous reconstruction, which is performed immediately after mastectomy, and delayed reconstruction, which is performed after more than 2 years, but there is no difference in effectiveness. However, for simultaneous reconstruction in terms of psychological and efficient aspects, it is necessary to set up a good time plan with the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon, and since the operation time is long, there are limitations and so, it is only performed in less than 10% of all resection patients.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: What is important in breast cancer prevention and postoperative care?
A. Kim Do-il: If breast cancer prevention is to prevent cancer from developing, the most important thing is to reduce continuous exposure to female hormones. An earlier birth is beneficial, and longer breastfeeding is recommended. In addition, it is important to reduce animal fat by making eating habits healthy and not becoming obese. In addition, even if breast cancer occurs, it can be cured if detected early, so efforts should be made to detect it early. This is why periodic breast examinations after the age of 40 are important.
As surgery and systemic treatment of breast cancer are standardized, there is no big difference in the methods among hospitals. However, after treatment is over, during the follow-up period, some people spend this period happily and fruitfully, while some worry about recurrence every day. These differences have a great impact on breast cancer recurrence. Trusting your doctor and spending each day happily and positively is the most important thing to prevent breast cancer from recurring.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: Lastly, would you like to say something to those who are struggling with breast cancer?
A. Kim Do-il: I have seen many breast cancer patients worry about minor symptoms as signs of a recurrence of breast cancer. Problems that can be easily solved by meeting, listening with a doctor, and examining are still seen in many patients in large hospitals who cannot easily see their primary care physician. Many big general hospitals in Korea perform operations for too many patients. Patients need to change their mindset that they should go only to a large hospital. Personally, since I have been treating patients at the same hospital for 20 years, the number of patients I have to manage from those whom I operated on 20 years ago to those whom I recently operated has increased. So, the to spend with a patient got less, and reservations for new patients are delayed. Nevertheless, we promise to do our best to treat every patient.
A. Kim Do-il, Head of Breast Center at MizMedi Hospital (hereafter Kim Do-il): I graduated from Yonsei University, College of Medicine. After I completed a resident at Severance Hospital and a breast surgery instructor at Gangnam Severance Hospital, I have worked at MizMedi Hospital for 20 years since it was opened. As the first obstetrics and gynecology specialist hospital to receive JCI international accreditation, MizMedi Hospital is a general hospital and obstetrics and gynecology specialist hospital specializing in women's health of all ages for pregnancy, childbirth, and menopausal diseases. Since 2003, the Breast Center of MizMedi Hospital has held breast cancer lectures twice a year
to raise awareness of breast cancer in the community, and organized and sponsored the Breast Cancer Association, a group of breast cancer patients, to promote a healthy life after surgery.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: Awareness of the disease has increased due to breast cancer campaigns such as the October Breast Cancer Month event, but the incidence rate continues to rise and is at a high level. Is the cause of breast cancer related to modern lifestyles such as obesity?
A. Kim Do-il: Over the past 20 years, the incidence of breast cancer has been continuously increasing. The incidence of breast cancer rose from 25 per 100,000 in 2000 to 60 in 2016. Female hormones are the most important cause of breast cancer, directly related to pregnancy and childbirth, increased hormone treatment after menopause, and indirectly to environmental factors such as lifestyle and dietary factors. Naturally, high-fat diets such as fast food have increased over the past 20 years, and as the average age of marriage has gradually increased, the average marriage age is over 30 years old as of 2018, childbirth is delayed proportionally and fertility rate is declining. It affects hormones and contributes to the increase in breast cancer.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: Recently, the rate of breast cancer not only in elderly patients but also in young women is increasing. In this case, are there any problems with pregnancy or childbirth due to breast cancer treatment?
A. Kim Do-il: The incidence of breast cancer in Korea is highest in people in their 40s and 50s, and then gradually decreases in their 60s and 70s. The incidence of breast cancer in your 20s is very small, but it starts to increase suddenly in your 30s. Breast cancer in young women progresses very quickly, and the possibility of heritability is high, so stronger chemotherapy is considered. These medications can affect ovarian function, making it more likely that pregnancy will be difficult. Therefore, in the case of young women considering childbirth, it is recommended to actively prepare for the future by collecting part of the ovary or eggs before breast cancer treatment or freezing fertilized eggs in advance, or indirectly reducing ovarian function before chemotherapy to reduce the impact of anticancer drugs.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: Does the treatment method differ depending on the type of breast cancer?
A. Kim Do-il: The types of breast cancer are divided into ductal cancer and papillary carcinoma according to the type of cancer seen under a microscope, but it does not significantly affect treatment. Recently, molecular types are classified according to gene expression patterns to reflect in treatment. According to the classification of whether the molecular structure of breast cancer has a specific substance or not, the most effective method such as targeted therapy or chemotherapy is selected and treated. Treatment methods can be largely divided into local treatment and systemic treatment, which are treated in various ways depending on the type, stage, and metastasis of breast cancer.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: According to a survey, about 40% of patients suffer from depression due to the loss of having their breasts, a symbol of women, cut open. Do I have to have a mastectomy in case of an outbreak?
A. Kim Do-il: The surgical method is determined by the size and location of the breast cancer. Recently, removal of the entire breast is only 20-30%, and most women maintain their breast shape through breast-conserving surgery. Of course, there are definitely cases where the entire breast must be removed, and patients consider reconstruction in this case.
There is simultaneous reconstruction, which is performed immediately after mastectomy, and delayed reconstruction, which is performed after more than 2 years, but there is no difference in effectiveness. However, for simultaneous reconstruction in terms of psychological and efficient aspects, it is necessary to set up a good time plan with the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon, and since the operation time is long, there are limitations and so, it is only performed in less than 10% of all resection patients.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: What is important in breast cancer prevention and postoperative care?
A. Kim Do-il: If breast cancer prevention is to prevent cancer from developing, the most important thing is to reduce continuous exposure to female hormones. An earlier birth is beneficial, and longer breastfeeding is recommended. In addition, it is important to reduce animal fat by making eating habits healthy and not becoming obese. In addition, even if breast cancer occurs, it can be cured if detected early, so efforts should be made to detect it early. This is why periodic breast examinations after the age of 40 are important.
As surgery and systemic treatment of breast cancer are standardized, there is no big difference in the methods among hospitals. However, after treatment is over, during the follow-up period, some people spend this period happily and fruitfully, while some worry about recurrence every day. These differences have a great impact on breast cancer recurrence. Trusting your doctor and spending each day happily and positively is the most important thing to prevent breast cancer from recurring.
Q. MEDIEUS QUEEN: Lastly, would you like to say something to those who are struggling with breast cancer?
A. Kim Do-il: I have seen many breast cancer patients worry about minor symptoms as signs of a recurrence of breast cancer. Problems that can be easily solved by meeting, listening with a doctor, and examining are still seen in many patients in large hospitals who cannot easily see their primary care physician. Many big general hospitals in Korea perform operations for too many patients. Patients need to change their mindset that they should go only to a large hospital. Personally, since I have been treating patients at the same hospital for 20 years, the number of patients I have to manage from those whom I operated on 20 years ago to those whom I recently operated has increased. So, the to spend with a patient got less, and reservations for new patients are delayed. Nevertheless, we promise to do our best to treat every patient.
#Medius #Interview #surgeon #Mizmedi Hospital #Kim Do-il #breast center #breast cancer #female hormone #breast cancer treatment #breast cancer pregnancy #breast cancer types #breast cancer prevention #Korean RenowedDoctor#RenownedDoctorInterview#RenownedDoctorRecommendation#RenownedDoctor #Interview#MDUS
 |
CEO 박보현
메디컬 커머셜 플랫폼, 메디우스 (주)비앤에이치코리아 대표이사
국내최고 디지털마케팅 전문가
[월간 CEO&] 의료전문 컬럼니스트
인터뷰 문의:sales@bnhkorea.co.kr
|