Senology is the medical specialty that deals with the study and the treatment of the mammary glands for both benign and malignant breast disease.
When there is any suspicion, alteration or changes in the breasts, or when the diagnosis requires investigation, a senologist should always be consulted.
The decrease in unnecessary surgical procedures of benign disease was one of the major evolutions of senology. In recent years, it is in the treatment of breast cancer that major changes have taken place.
The vast majority of benign breast disease does not require treatment, but to obtain an accurate diagnosis, excluding the possibility of breast cancer, surgery of the benign disease is sometimes necessary and will clarify any existing doubts.
Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant tumour in women, affecting one in every 10 women. Its high incidence has caused a large number of studies in recent years, radically changing the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
The most important step in the cure of this disease began in the last 40 years. This breakthrough happened in the woman herself, through self awareness of breast cancer. It was discovered that by seeking immediate expert advice, the cure rate improved by 65% in a disease that if not treated early, inevitably leads to death of the patient.
The good news kept coming, as chemotherapy and hormone therapy that were used only as palliative drugs, to prolong the lives of patients in the advanced stages of the disease, began to be applied in the initial stages of the treatment in addition to surgical treatment. This further increased the cure rate of informed women to 75%.
The cure rate increased further with the use of mammography in the early detection of breast cancer, and presently the curability rate has increased to over 90% in women over 40 who undergo mammograms regularly (every 1-2 years).
Studies continue with the goal of obtaining a cure and a better quality of life for women who suffer from this disease.
The senologist is the medical specialist who specialises in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with benign or malignant breast disease. The senologist treats women and men, adults and children, the elderly and teenagers.
It is important to remember that in cases of suspected breast cancer, the expert with the best training in this area is the specialist in senology. He will decide which method of choice is best in accordance with the diagnosis, and if breast cancer is confirmed, discusses the best treatment plan with a multidisciplinary team of specialists and the patient.
The senologist is the doctor that should plan and carry out the surgical treatment of a breast cancer patient. He must also coordinate all complementary treatment such as plastic surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, physiotherapy and expert psychology, and be responsible for each one of these experts.
On completion of the treatment, it is up to the senologist, together with the oncologist, to conduct the regular follow-up of the patients, according to the specific needs of each individual case.
The Hospital Particular do Algarve now has a Unit of Senology able to treat all aspects of breast disease. This new unit has been equipped with all the necessary technology and specialised personnel able to perform:
• Digital mammography
• Ultrasound
• CT scan
• MRI
• Aspiration and cytological puncture
• Biopsy and core- biopsy
• Marking and biopsy of non-palpable lesions, guided by ultrasound or stereotactic (harpoon).
• Cytological and histological study of the lesions, including immunohistochemistry
• Marking and study of the sentinel node
• Expert multidisciplinary specialist consultation for the treatment of breast cancer
• Conservative as well as radical surgery for breast cancer
• Oncoplastic breast cancer surgery
• Adjuvant therapy treatment of breast cancer by hormonal therapy and/or chemotherapy
• Reconstructive surgery of breast cancer.
In the particular case of breast cancer, the senology team at the Hospital Particular do Algarve will do everything possible to maintain the patient’s high self-esteem, making sure that hope is not lost as everything will be fine in the end.
The senology team will provide all the necessary explanations regarding the disease, making sure that all questions concerning the treatment are answered.
Understanding what is happening during all the various stages of the treatment is fundamental. Everything becomes less difficult when the patient feels that both the treatment and the doctor are their allies, even though at times the patient is tired of everything and everyone.
By Dr. Aguinaldo Andrade
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Dr Aguinaldo Andrade is a specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics and holds a subspecialty in gynaecological oncology and senology.
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