Breast Cancer: Even Early Stages Pose Risks, Doctors Warn
Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer incidence among women in Taiwan.
- Even early-stage or in-situ breast cancer requires careful attention and complete treatment to prevent recurrence.
- Incomplete treatment, such as skipping recommended radiotherapy after surgery, can significantly increase the risk of recurrence, as illustrated by patient cases.
In Taiwan, breast cancer continues to be a significant health concern, topping the list of cancer diagnoses for women year after year. The recent cases of celebrity figures like former Miss Hong Kong, Shirley Cheung, and former TVB actress, Monica Chan, succumbing to or battling recurrent breast cancer, underscore the persistent threat this disease poses.
Even in-situ breast cancer should not be taken lightly.
Our publication, Liberty Times, emphasizes the critical message from Dr. Lai Hung-wen, a breast specialist: no stage of breast cancer, not even the seemingly less severe "in-situ" or "stage 0," should be taken lightly. Many patients, and even some medical professionals, harbor a dangerous misconception that early-stage diagnoses guarantee a complete cure without further intervention.
Many people think stage 0 breast cancer is the safest, but that's not true. Even in-situ cancer requires complete treatment.
Dr. Lai's experience highlights a concerning trend where patients, after successful surgery and reconstruction for in-situ or early-stage cancer, opt out of crucial follow-up treatments like radiotherapy. This decision, often driven by a desire to avoid potential side effects or a false sense of security, can have dire consequences. The case of a 65-year-old patient, who experienced a recurrence a year after seemingly successful treatment for in-situ cancer, serves as a stark warning.
The risk is that people will stop being afraid; they are like a compressed spring, and one day that spring will pop.
This situation is particularly poignant in Taiwan, where public health awareness campaigns often focus on early detection. While this is vital, it's equally important to stress the necessity of adhering to complete treatment protocols. The narrative that "early detection is the cure" needs to be balanced with the understanding that "complete treatment is the key to prevention of recurrence." Our coverage aims to empower women with this comprehensive understanding, urging them to complete all recommended therapies, even after seemingly positive initial outcomes, to truly safeguard their health against this pervasive disease.
You know what the risk is? It's that people will stop being afraid; they are like a compressed spring, and one day that spring will pop.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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