As part of Beach FM’s Breastie Bestie initiative to raise awareness of breast cancer, Dr. Andrew Herzuah, a medical director at the doctor’s in-service health center, in an interview on the Mid Morning Lounge, gave insight about the stages and symptoms of breast cancer.
Dr. Herzuah admonished that breast cancer symptoms mostly go unnoticed, but he clarified that there are some things to look out for when someone suspects the cancerous disease.
According to him, “if you notice a breast lump that feels different from the surroundings, it is a bit firm, it could be breast cancer. And if you also notice a change in the size or appearance of the breast, report to the hospital for them to confirm whether or not you are seeing cancer”.
Dr. Herzuah asserted the broader concept of cancer is known to occur when there is a division of cells within the tissue.
For this reason, the stages of cancer come into play, which are used to determine the extent to which the cancer has spread and also to determine the best treatment option.
He says a lot of things can be used to stage breast cancer including a mammogram, blood test, bone scan, MRI, and breast biopsy, amongst others.
According to Dr. Herzuah, there are 5 stages of breast cancer that is from stage 0 to stage 4.
Dr. Herzuah advised that people take advantage of the screenings because breast cancer treatment can be very stressful.
He further gives differential notes between women who go through Premenstrual syndrome and those having breast cancer saying “if you all of a sudden are getting some changes in the color of your breast, and if say the left breast is suddenly getting bigger and is not going after menstruation, don’t wait, you have to also go and check”.
