Breast cancer screening not a surgeon's privilege: gynecologists

2011/11/02 Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) General gynecologists are every bit as knowledgeable as surgeons about breast cancer screening, a gynecologist association said Wednesday. Countering a statement issued earlier by a breast cancer patient group that it is "wrong" to visit a gynecologist when one has a suspect lump in the breast, Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology Secretary-General Huang Min-chao said that in fact, spending time looking for a surgeon who can give a diagnosis could in fact lead to a delay in timely treatment. In an event held Oct. 30 to mark breast cancer awareness month, the Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance told the public that breast cancer is treated by surgeons rather than gynecologists. This misconception needs to be revised, Huang told CNA in a telephone interview. In Taiwan, breast cancer screening and diagnosis is jointly implemented by four different medical departments -- surgery, medical imaging, family medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology, he said. "One can go to see a doctor in any of those departments for help to get the most timely assistance," he noted. Huang pointed out that it can be difficult to secure an appointment with a surgeon specialized in breast surgery if every woman who suspects she might have the disease calls in for a screening session. "Gynecology clinics nowadays are mostly equipped with breast ultrasound devices and their doctors are familiar with breast exam techniques. It is not necessary to go to big hospitals for preliminary checks," he added. "Everyone is responsible for breast cancer screening, including the patient," he went on, urging women with a family history of cancer to conduct regular self-examinations and to see a doctor to ensure early detection.