Evolve is proud to be supporting Pink October to help raise awareness about breast cancer in Malta.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the Maltese Islands. However, Malta has the best breast cancer survival rate in Europe with more than four of every five women treated for breast cancer surviving for at least five years.
About 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There’s a good chance of recovery if it’s detected at an early stage. For this reason, it’s vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always have any changes examined by a doctor.
Mark Mizzi from Evolve’s medical department, said: ‘Evolve has contributed to the health sector in Malta and overseas for years, supplying state-of-the-art technology to allow doctors and medical scientists to treat breast cancer patients.
‘We are lucky that our health service in Malta provides a comprehensive free breast screening programme. Since 2009, more than 80000 mammograms have been carried out in Malta. I can understand that going for an appointment might be a hassle or even feel slightly embarrassing but the truth is it could save your life.’
Pink October was launched in Malta in 2014 with the aim of increasing awareness and raising funds for breast cancer research. Evolve, as Malta’s fastest-growing science company, has been a strong and vocal supporter of the campaign over the years.
Fiona Mallia, Chief Digital Officer at Evolve, said: ‘We know that breast cancer doesn’t stop for anything, including coronavirus. People affected by breast cancer, as well as Malta’s scientists, nurses and doctors urgently need support, now more than ever.’
Who is most at risk of breast cancer?
Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50, but younger women can also get breast cancer. About one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There’s a good chance of recovery if it’s detected at an early stage.
For this reason, it’s vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always have any changes examined by a doctor. In rare cases, men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer. You should also see a doctor if you notice any of these symptoms:
- a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood
- a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
- dimpling on the skin of your breasts
- a rash on or around your nipple
- a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Causes of breast cancer
The exact causes of breast cancer are not fully understood. However, there are certain factors known to increase the risk of breast cancer.
These include:
- age – the risk increases as you get older
- a family history of breast cancer
- a previous diagnosis of breast cancer
- a previous non-cancerous or benign breast lump
- being tall, overweight or obese
- drinking alcohol
Preventing breast cancer
As the causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, at the moment it’s not possible to know if it can be prevented. If you have an increased risk of developing the condition, some treatments are available to reduce your risk.
Studies have looked at the link between breast cancer and diet. Although there are no definite conclusions, there are benefits for women who:
- maintain a healthy weight
- exercise regularly
- have a low intake of saturated fat
- do not drink alcohol
It has also been suggested that regular exercise can reduce your risk of breast cancer by almost as much as a third. Regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle can also improve the outlook for people affected by breast cancer.
Breast cancer screening
Mammographic screening, where X-ray images of the breast are taken, is the most commonly available way of finding a change in your breast tissue (lesion) at an early stage. Find out more about breast cancer screening in Malta.
How does Evolve help?
Breast cancer is close to the hearts of everyone at Evolve. As Malta’s fastest-growing science company, we supply cancer screening devices and other specialist medical equipment to hospitals, health centres and clinics, including:
Microscopes
Trustworthy and reliable, microscopes have led to world-changing scientific discoveries which have saved millions of lives over the centuries. Leica Microsystems have been serving this sector for more than 100 years. Their DM3000 series is a versatile microscope offering crisp clear optics with best ergonomics for the well being of the user.
Bond III by Leica Biosystems
A state of the art fully automated staining machine, pictured below, using immunohistochemistry. Together with the vast range of antibody portfolio available from Leica, our medical scientists can stain a particular slide to the very smallest structure in order to be able to identify if that particular biopsy is malignant or not.
HydroMark Breast Biopsy Marker
The HydroMark is deployed by the delivery system through the Mammotome probe and is left in the void created during the biopsy procedure. This is a biodegradable polymer containing a central permanent metal marker that accurately marks a breast biopsy site. Using this, the doctor could easily access a lesion more accurately with minimal trauma for the patient.
The BD Surepath system
This adopts the latest liquid base cytology technique for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer. This system has proven to be superior to it’s predecessor Papanicolaou stain which used to be the gold standard. Liquid base cytology offers a much better visibility of the cells with standardised staining and thus helps the medical scientist to arrive to a better diagnosis.
Speak to an Evolve expert
In recent years, breast cancer screening techniques have evolved and improved significantly. If you are looking for high quality mammography and other equipment for your laboratory, Evolve has a wide range of systems to assist you in rapidly and accurately determining the proper course of treatment for your patients. To learn more, get in touch with an Evolve expert today.
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