Breast cancer: diagnosis and treatment in Cuauhtémoc

What it is

It is the most common cancer among Mexican women. Although far less common, it can also occur in men. When it is found early, treatment options are usually simpler and the outlook is generally better; that is why timely detection matters so much.

Breast cancer does not appear overnight: it usually develops over months or years without causing pain or discomfort at first. That is why screening tests are recommended even for women who feel completely healthy.

Risk factors

• Being a woman and getting older (most cases are diagnosed after age 40).
• Family history of breast or ovarian cancer, especially in your mother, sisters, or daughters.
• Inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
• First menstrual period before age 12 or menopause after age 55.
• Never having had children, or having a first pregnancy after age 30.
• Never having breastfed.
• Being overweight or obese, especially after menopause.
• Alcohol use and lack of physical activity.
• Prolonged combined hormone therapy after menopause.
• Radiation to the chest at a young age.

Having one or more risk factors does not mean you will develop the disease; there are also women with breast cancer who have no known risk factors.

Warning signs / common symptoms

• A lump or mass in the breast or armpit, with or without pain.
• A change in the size or shape of one breast.
• Dimpling or pulling-in of the nipple or the skin.
• Breast skin that looks red, thickened, or like an orange peel.
• Fluid or blood coming from the nipple when you are not breastfeeding.
• Persistent pain in one area of the breast.

Important: these signs can also come from benign conditions, such as cysts or infections. Only a doctor can evaluate them. If you notice any of them, come in for an evaluation.

How it is detected and diagnosed

• Monthly self-exam starting at age 20, ideally between days 7 and 10 after your period begins: it helps you know your body and notice changes.
• Yearly clinical breast exam starting at age 25, performed by trained health personnel. At the Unidad de Oncología Menonita, this check is part of the oncology consultation.
• Mammogram every 2 years for women ages 40 to 69, following the Mexican standard NOM-041-SSA2-2011.
• If a test shows something suspicious, the next step is usually a breast ultrasound and, when confirmation is needed, a biopsy: a small tissue sample is taken for analysis. A biopsy is the only test that confirms or rules out cancer, and it is a procedure the unit performs.
• The biopsy analysis also shows the tumor type and whether it responds to hormones or to certain proteins (such as HER2), which guides treatment.

Treatment options

Treatment is decided based on the tumor type, the stage, and each patient's overall health. The Unidad de Oncología Menonita offers:

• Cancer surgery: removing the tumor while preserving the breast when possible, or removing the breast (mastectomy) when necessary, with evaluation of the lymph nodes in the armpit.
• Chemotherapy: medicines that destroy cancer cells; it can be given before surgery (to shrink the tumor) or after.
• Hormone therapy: for tumors that grow with estrogen or progesterone; it is usually taken for several years.
• Targeted therapy: medicines that attack specific features of the tumor, such as the HER2 protein.
• Immunotherapy: in certain tumor types, it helps the body's own defenses recognize and attack the cancer.
• Palliative care: pain and symptom control at any stage of the disease, not only at the end.

Being honest about radiation therapy: many patients, especially those who keep their breast, also need radiation therapy. The unit does not have this service; in those cases we refer and coordinate care with radiation therapy centers in Chihuahua City, and the rest of the treatment continues in Cuauhtémoc.

Early detection / prevention

According to the Mexican standard NOM-041-SSA2-2011:

• Starting at age 20: breast self-exam every month.
• Starting at age 25: clinical breast exam once a year.
• Ages 40 to 69: a mammogram every 2 years, even without symptoms.
• Women with a significant family history may need surveillance before age 40; this is defined in consultation.

These help lower the risk: keeping a healthy weight, getting regular physical activity, limiting alcohol and, when possible, breastfeeding.

Frequently asked questions

Can a blow to the breast cause cancer? No. Injuries do not cause cancer, although sometimes a blow leads someone to check and discover a lump that was already there. If you find a lump, come in for an evaluation.

Does a mammogram hurt a lot? It can be uncomfortable because it compresses the breast for a few seconds, but the discomfort is brief. It is the test that has been shown to find tumors before they can be felt.

If my mother had breast cancer, will I get it too? Not necessarily, but your risk is higher and it makes sense to start surveillance earlier. Bring it up in consultation so we can define a screening plan that fits you.

Related treatments