- During October, the Pink Month is commemorated with different activities to promote self-care and timely diagnosis of breast cancer.
- The unit is located within the Regional Hospital “Lic. Adolfo López Mateos” of the CDMX.
- It has the capacity to perform 6,000 annual diagnostic studies and also has a new ultrasonographer.
There are diseases of great magnitude that have not yet been controlled. Due to their high incidence, they are global public health problems and are a priority to reverse the current scenario. One of the most dangerous is breast cancer and for this reason the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (ISSSTE) announced the reopening of one of its specialized units.
Problem that keeps growing
To get started, Currently, 2.2 million new cases and 685 thousand deaths are detected annually. To date, it is one of the most common tumors in women, especially in those over 40 years of age, although it can develop at any time in life.
With this in mind, October was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the Pink month. Throughout its 31 days, different activities are carried out to raise awareness among the population.
Another patient care option
Based on the above, the director of ISSSTE, Pedro Zenteno, announced the reopening of his Breast Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Center (CDDCM). It is located within Regional Hospital “Lic. Adolfo López Mateos” of Mexico City and it is part of the strategy for prevention and strengthening of early care for this disease, the main cause of death from oncological diseases.
At the head of this unit is the Dr. Valentin Herrera Alarconwho reported that, in order to increase the coverage of timely diagnosis of this condition and reduce preventable deaths, the CDDCM was strengthened with a breast ultrasonograph and services were opened in the evening shift.
“With these measures and the provision of highly specialized medical personnel in diagnostic interpretation, we will increase productivity and prompt delivery of results for the benefit of women beneficiaries.”
Through health fairs Echoes for Well-beingshe added, promotional actions have been intensified to make women aware of the importance of monthly self-examination. Also about the need to go to medical units every year to request that they undergo a mammographyeven if there are no symptoms, because none is exempt from developing breast cancer.
The person in charge of the CDDCM of the morning shift and a specialist in imaging and intervention in breast and oncological radiology, Guinevere V. López Tecamachaltzi, detailed that from January to August 2022 this service carried out 4,399 studies. Of this figure, 2,586 were mammograms, 1,573 breast ultrasounds, and 284 biopsies and harpoon markings.
“We have specialized equipment for the proper diagnosis of breast cancer, such as two modern mammographs, in which mammography studies are performed, and one specialized for stereotactic biopsy. Our ultrasonograph has a high resolution linear transducer from 13 to 15 megahertz and in July we received a new one to improve services. Our mission is the early and timely detection of this pathology, to save lives”.
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