Mammography and new Shtip breast centre: early diagnosis saves lives

Mammography screenings are a preventive measure against breast cancer, medical professionals say as part of the Pink October campaign, stressing that timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are decisive in the fight against the disease.

For Shtip resident Violeta Eftimova, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 1990s, the diagnosis marked the start of a difficult struggle, not the end of her life. She urges other women not to lose hope.

Patient experience and practical advice

"Don't shut yourselves at home; find an outlet for your soul. I found mine in cultural-art societies, I've been in the theatre group for more than 10 years, with song. You can't be in a bad mood when you sing. Otherwise that thought about the illness will keep spinning at home, and we know that breast cancer is a curable disease if detected early," says Violeta Eftimova, a former patient.

Medical staff warn that long waits for tests increase uncertainty for patients and carry the risk of disease progression. To reduce delays, Shtip Clinical Hospital has opened a new multidisciplinary breast centre intended to speed up diagnosis and streamline patient care.

"We know that breast cancer is a curable disease if it is detected early. Therefore, all women should examine their breasts regularly. If the disease is discovered early, the chances of successful treatment are much greater. It is not a disease that cannot be treated and it does not mean the end," Eftimova adds.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, breast cancer is diagnosed annually in 1,000 women. The Pink October campaign and the new centre in Shtip aim to increase screening rates and shorten the time from suspicion to diagnosis and treatment.

Photo: press material from the event