Every day, three Moldovan women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Currently, almost ten thousand Moldovan women are struggling with this disease. Women over the age of 50 are most commonly affected. For the 34th consecutive year, the month of October is internationally dedicated to breast cancer awareness and prevention.

Asked by IPN, Larisa Sofroni, a mammologist at the Oncological Institute, said that pre-cancerous conditions, benign tumors and mammary gland cancer appear as a result of hormonal disorders. Among the factors that can lead to the development of breast cancer are late menopause, multiple pregnancy interruptions, not breastfeeding, administration of hormonal preparations for contraception without the recommendation and control of the doctor, stress and pathologies of the genital organs that weren't treated on time.

The doctor added that, at least once per month, on the fifth or seventh day of the menstrual cycle, a woman must palpate her breasts in front of the mirror, upright, starting from the base towards the center. Moreover, every six months, a woman should consult a mammologist for clinical investigations.

According to Larisa Sofroni, unfortunately, breast cancer is the most common form of neoplasia in women and accounts for 1/3 of all female tumors. This is a major problem with global impact, with high mortality rates. Mammary gland cancer has the highest mortality rate of all malignant tumors in women in Moldova. About one thousand women are registered with breast cancer every year by a mammologist. Nearly half of women with breast cancer die by the age of 65.

The disease can be treated if it is detected at an early stage. However, in a third of case, the disease is detected in its final stages, when the treatment has poor results.

Last year, more than 500 women died due to the disease.

Until the end of October, the Oncology Institute operates a green line - 022852137, where anyone can call and receive answers to questions regarding this form of cancer from a mammologist oncologist.