Medical Tourism in Athens for Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment in Order to Face Breast Disease (Begign and Malignant) It’s a Significant Οption

It is very important, useful and life saving the early diagnosis of breast cancer. This does not mean that any abnormality in the breast, corresponds to breast cancer.

Generally speaking, 90% of abnormalities correspond in benign lesions and only the 10% to breast cancer. In order to be sure for a correct diagnosis, the women should undergo to some different examinations. As are: the clinical examination of the breast, in which is included a detailed history of the patient, a breast overview, and palpation of the breast, mammography (digital or tomosynthesis), breast ultrasounds and if needed breast MRI, puncture and cytological examination for any palpable lesion, core biopsy and histological examination, nipple discharge and cytological examination and if needed galactography.

Thus the preventive examination, the early diagnosis and the appropriate surgery of breast cancer en- sures greater survival of women. We should know that after the age of 35, all women should undergo a complete annual breast examination by a specialized Senologist (breast specialist). If a woman has hereditary history of breast cancer the above mention examination of the breast, should begin 10 years earlier of the age of the person which the most close relative. In order to give an example, if the mother developed breast cancer at the age of 40, the daughter should then begin her preventive examination, from the age of 30.

Also, a complete breast examination should be performed in women who have not had their first child until the age of 32-35. It is very important for women who will became pregnant to be examined before, in order to know that she has no problem to begin a pregnancy or that she has a problem and should be treated before became pregnant. It is very unfortunate for a woman to be pregnant without been examined, and without knowing
that she has a sub- clinical breast cancer became pregnant, because the breast cancer in this condition is very aggressive and will progress rapidly. It should also useful to be mention, that breast cancer also develops in men and unfortunately many men are not aware of it. The frequency in men, is much lower, corresponding to 1 men with breast cancer for every 100 women with breast cancer. But unfortunately, due to the smaller size of the male breast, and the proximity (short distance) of the breast to the chest wall, together with the patient’s ignorance to visiting Senologist immediately with a very small lump, as with his possible experience of pubertal gynecomastia, that appeared and then passed, he does not give importance to the finding. It is other thing to have a palpable lymph node in adolescence and another thing to have a palpable nodule after the age of 50.

Because of all these, in men, the involvement of the chest wale occurs much earlier than in women and that the prognosis for men, is much worse than that of women.

In Athens we have fully organize breast center, where a complete diagnosis can be made and surgical treatment can be performed. In addition, to all the above mention, and the climatic conditions in Athens, help to support the psychological state of patients.

Also, in Athens and especially in our team, we have specialized Plastic Surgeons for issues of reconstruction of the removed breast, reduction of hypertrophic breast, restoration of anisomastia and gynecomastia.

Finally, the financial burden in Athens, is much lower than that from America and other European Countries. Therefore, we invite you and suggest you to try if you need the provision of organized Breast Services in Senology in Athens.