Doctor shares breast cancer statistics for Yaroslavl region

October is recognized as International Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Despite medical advances, the disease remains one of the most common among women worldwide.

«Oncologists emphasize that breast cancer is not a fatal diagnosis. With early detection, 90% of women can be cured or achieve stable remission. In Russia, we have just crossed the threshold of 60% survival, but we must strive to increase this indicator,» emphasized Irina Borovova, president of the Zdoravstvuy! Association of Cancer Patients.

A 76.RU correspondent, in a conversation with mammologist Yana Anferova of the Yaroslavl Regional Cancer Hospital, investigated the causes of breast cancer formation.

According to statistics provided by the doctor, in 2024, more than 80,000 cases of breast cancer were recorded in Russia, with over 300,000 patients under medical supervision.

«In Yaroslavl region, the incidence rate is always higher than in other regions. Why this is the case is unknown. Perhaps detection is more effective,» the oncologist suggested.

According to the mammologist, as of 2024, about a thousand people in the region were registered with breast cancer.

«This is more than in previous years. Such an increase in incidence is linked to the peak of the coronavirus infection (2020–2021). At that time, almost all clinics were closed, and women had no opportunity to go for check-ups,» the specialist explained.

Causes of Breast Cancer

According to the doctor, in a normal human body, cell mutations occur daily. There is a mechanism that destroys mutated and damaged cells. When the body stops recognizing a foreign cell, a cancerous tumor can develop from it.

There are many risk factors for tumor development; the oncologist named some of them:

• obesity;

• consequences of diabetes;

• hormonal imbalance (menstrual cycle disorders);

• frequent abortions;

• prolonged estrogen period (early menarche and late menopause);

• absence of lactation (the organ does not fulfill its function);

• long-term use of hormonal contraceptives;

• IVF (in vitro fertilization).

Additionally, the doctor states that a risk factor for breast cancer development can be genetic predisposition, specifically the presence of mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, as well as defects in other genes.

Moreover, according to the expert, underwear does not affect the development of breast cancer. However, trauma or a hematoma in the breast area can contribute to the occurrence of a malignant neoplasm, though not in all cases.

How Breast Cancer is Treated

In Yaroslavl region, the breast cancer diagnosis is morphologically confirmed in 97% of cases before starting therapy. The treatment strategy is determined individually at a consultation involving specialists from various fields according to clinical guidelines.

One of the treatment methods is surgical intervention.

«There is a global trend towards organ-preserving surgeries. Previously, with a breast cancer diagnosis, the breast was removed entirely: both the minor and major pectoral muscles. Now, there is an option for resection of only the area with the tumor and regional nodes where metastases have formed. In this case, the patient is entitled to postoperative radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence,» the mammologist explained.

Regional lymph nodes of the breast are the lymph nodes that first receive lymph draining from the breast.

Metastases are tumor cells that have broken away from the primary tumor and, through the bloodstream or lymph, reached other organs and began growing in them, forming new metastatic tumors with the nature of the primary tumor.

With poor prognostic factors for cancer, patients begin treatment with medicinal methods:

• chemotherapy (use of antitumor drugs);

• targeted drugs (act on specific receptors of certain tumors);

• hormone therapy;

• immunotherapy.

Earlier, we published five inspiring stories of women who beat cancer.