At what age and how should breast health evaluation be done?
Dr Öncel Yakar’s comments
Regular monthly self-examinations are recommended for women at normal risk from the age of 20. A breast surgeon should be consulted in order to perform this examination correctly and to learn which findings should be sought for medical help. Even if there is no problem in regular examinations, it is recommended to consult a doctor for a clinical examination every 3 years. After the age of 40, a clinical examination is required annually. Annual screening mammography should also be performed in this age group. Since there is no specific upper age limit for screening, screening continues as long as there is a life expectancy of at least 10 years.
Breast health plays an important role in every woman’s life. This is based on the facts that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and that early diagnosis and treatment significantly increase life expectancy thanks to screening methods. While stricter follow-up and examination protocols are applied for women with certain risk factors, women with no risk factors should also have breast screenings regularly. Standard breast screening guidelines recommend that women should perform breast self-examination from the age of 20, and additionally, from the age of 40, breast imaging with clinical examination and mammography once a year. In this section, especially in the twenty-fifth year of her profession and as a female surgeon, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Didem Öncel Yakar answers questions frequently asked by you. We are with you to manage your routine annual screenings and appropriate examination-surgery-treatment processes at our private practice located in Ataşehir-Istanbul.