Damascus-Sana
In conjunction with the World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mouwasat University Hospital in Damascus launched the work in the specialized unit for breast diseases, in a step that is the first of its kind at the level of Syrian hospitals, in order to contribute to the management of breast tumors and their approach according to the scientific and academic principles recognized worldwide.
According to Dr. Essam Zakaria, Secretary-General of the Hospital, the unit will provide all medical and consulting services free of charge to breast tumor patients through an academic medical team composed of specialists in general surgery, oncology, radiology, psychological treatment and cosmetology, so that the disease is diagnosed by the woman and the appropriate protocol for her treatment and the procedures related to that are all according to the case. And the degree of tumor development, i.e. setting a clear health plan for the patient through which she follows the course of treatment, whether in the hospital or in any other hospital or health center.
Dr. Al-Amin explains in an interview with SANA that the approach to breast cancer requires the presence of a group of specialists who are knowledgeable and familiar with the latest developments in the treatment protocols for breast cancer worldwide, indicating that the unit will contribute scientifically to determining the number of breast cancer cases that are reviewed by the hospital and all data related to the disease. This helps postgraduate students in medical schools to conduct related scientific research, which will positively affect the medical service provided in the future.
Dr. Maan Al-Aissami, head of the breast disease unit at the hospital, confirmed that creating a breast unit in the hospital is a first step at the level of Syrian hospitals and Damascus University, with the aim of implementing a treatment protocol in this context according to what is applied and followed in the most prestigious hospitals in the world and developed countries through the formation of a multidisciplinary and integrated team that discusses Determining each disease case separately in order to reach a decision to implement the required treatment plan, whether through surgical, radiological or chemical treatment, leading to the patients' recovery and their return to their normal life.
Dr. Al-Aissami said that the unit will contribute to providing good services to patients and reaching better results in addition to raising the level of surgical work and the quality of the medical practice provided, given that the case approach will be conducted by a team and not by a single doctor, indicating that there is a plan to form a nursing team also to support patients at the level. Psychological and logistical in addition to the formation of a database and films in which patients can see in the future cases and meet patients, so that the topic becomes normal.
With regard to early detection of breast cancer services provided at Al-Mouwasat Hospital, Dr. Al-Amin affirms that the hospital provides these services throughout the year in addition to all advice and guidance for women in this field, as he was one of the first initiators to participate in the national campaigns that take place during the month of October of each year. The "pink month" related to that, based on the importance of early detection of this disease, as all modern investigative methods are available to diagnose the disease, such as mammography, echo, CT and magnetic resonance devices.
The number of women who are provided with early detection services in the hospital from a mammogram, echo, or any other procedures, reaches about 15 women per day of different ages, according to Dr. Muhammad Al-Muqbel, chief resident physician in the medical imaging and radiological diagnosis in the hospital, in order to investigate the presence of any pathological lesion. Clinical examination or echography services are provided to women under 40 years of age, while mammogram investigations are conducted for women over the age of forty.
Dr. Al-Muqbel confirms that 70 percent of the cases that the hospital reviews are benign tumors, which are cystic fibrocystic changes, simple cysts, healthy reactionary nodes in the armpits, or breast cysts, calling on women not to neglect themselves and to conduct self-examination permanently according to medical guidelines spread on the Internet and social networking sites And the media and review the hospital as soon as possible in case of feeling pain or if any lumps are felt in the breast or armpits.
Radiology technician, Zahoor Al-Wara, in the hospital's radiology department, said: We are working to reduce the feeling of fear, anxiety and indecision among the women who are reviewing, whether from imaging or fear of the results of the examination, which is ultimately an opportunity for reassurance and timely treatment.
Patient Umm Majid advised women to undergo the examination and to take this positive step, pointing out that the reception and handling are good and the examination procedures are comfortable.
According to the hospital’s statistics for the month of October, a mammogram of 522 women, an ultrasound scan of 433 women, and an MRI scan of five women were performed.
The results of these examinations showed that 227 normal cases were not seen with any lesions, while the examination of 197 women showed the presence of healthy lesions with intact cysts and cystic fibroids and axillary nodular hypertrophy. The malignant lesions confirmed by biopsy appeared in 41 women, while seven women refused follow-up reviews in the hospital. .
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women in the world and the most dangerous, as two million new cases are recorded annually according to the figures of the Global Fund for Cancer Research. In Syria, last year 2063 new cases were diagnosed in women and 103 in men.
Indian Helena
