Hanoi – A 67-year-old woman experienced right lower abdominal pain and weight loss. Doctors diagnosed her with stage 4 breast cancer that had metastasized to the liver.
The patient experienced pain and discomfort in her left chest for a year but did not seek medical attention and kept it a secret from her family. In the last two weeks, she experienced severe pain in her right lower rib area, experienced weight loss, and went to the hospital for examination. An ultrasound revealed a liver lesion, initially thought to be a tumor.
The patient went to the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Oncology, Bach Mai Hospital, for a follow-up examination. On June 7th, Dr. Pham Cam Phuong, Director of the Center, stated that the tumor in the left breast measured 5x6 cm, was bleeding and oozing fluid, and was accompanied by several small lesions. The patient had swelling, redness, and inflammation in the surrounding skin, and multiple lymph nodes in both armpits. The doctor diagnosed stage 4 breast cancer with liver metastasis, which was the cause of the right lower rib pain.
According to Dr. Phuong, this case is very unfortunate because the abnormality was detected early but the patient concealed the illness. "If the patient had sought medical attention early, before the tumor ulcerated, leaked fluid, or metastasized, the patient's lifespan would have been better ensured," the doctor said.
X-ray image of the mammary gland. Photo: Provided by the hospital.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. In Vietnam, breast cancer accounts for nearly 26% of all cancers in women, with over 21,000 new cases diagnosed annually and more than 9,000 deaths.
Breast cancer is completely curable if detected early, treated promptly, and with the right methods. The earlier it is detected, the simpler the treatment, the higher the cure rate, and the lower the treatment cost. According to doctors, when the disease is still confined to the breast tissue, the 5-year survival rate after treatment is as high as 99%. If the cancer has spread outside the breast to the lymph nodes and surrounding tissues, this rate drops to 86%. If the cancer has metastasized to other organs such as the lungs, liver, and bones, this rate is only 30%.
Current breast cancer treatments have made great strides, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and combinations with hormone therapy and biological therapy (targeted therapy). However, the key factor remains early detection.
Doctors recommend that screening and early detection of breast cancer are very important. Regular health checkups and screenings to detect the disease early will help improve treatment effectiveness and reduce costs.
Minh An
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