Cancer doesn’t stop for COVID
Between April and June this year, notifications of breast cancers decreased almost forty percent. Head of our breast surgery unit Dr Melanie Walker said, the COVID-19 restrictions should not be deterring people from seeing their GP for a breast examination if they have symptoms or concerns.
“If you find any symptoms such as a lump in the breast, dimpling of the skin, a change in the contour, redness of the breast or nipple, or nipple discharge – go and see your GP. Do not wait for the restrictions to ease, because breast cancer will not wait,” said Dr Walker.
“It’s important to catch breast cancer as early as possible through routine screening, or an exam with your GP if you find symptoms. The earlier it’s caught the better the outcome - most people are alive and well within ten years of being diagnosed.”
“Most patients we see in our clinic have presented to their GP with symptoms or are referred after a positive diagnosis through BreastScreen. We continue to do face-to-face appointments and examinations - all breast cancer surgeries are category one and have not stopped during COVID-19.”
This month is breast cancer awareness month and this year it’s more important than ever to spread awareness. For more information on breast cancer symptoms visit https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/breast-cancer.
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