Breast cancer: “Ladies, don't forget screening,” says Dr. Ancuta Sivu, radiologist at the CHU

Ancuta Sivu, radiologist at the Gard Cancer Institute: “one in eight women will have breast cancer. Get mammograms!” Midi Libre – K. H.

Every Tuesday, for Octobre Rose, Midi Libre explains the care pathway for patients with breast cancer. An immersion in the heart of the ICG that begins with screening at the women's imaging center with Dr. Ancuta Sivu.

The hall of the Gard Cancer Institute (ICG) is decorated with fuchsia pink umbrellas, the caregivers wear the little pink bow on their blouses… October (pink, therefore), the month dedicated to breast cancer, is displayed everywhere. It is one of the most publicized cancers, with organized screening in place since 2004, and yet, with 12,000 deaths per year, it remains the leading cause of death for women. And 61,000 new cases are detected each year.

“Get screened every two years”, insists Dr. Ancuta Sivu, a radiologist at the women's imaging unit at the ICG. In the Gard, barely half of women get screened. That's still too few… Last year, Didier Jaffre, the director of the ARS, reminded Midi Libre that 20,000 breast cancers could be avoided through screening.

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Organized screening from 50 to 74 years old

For women aged 50 to 74, organized and free screening is a mammogram every two years. “This allows us to see lesions of 5 mm that we cannot feel when palpating the breasts”, explains the radiologist. Because the tumor can be small and very aggressive. If necessary, an ultrasound can be used to refine the mammogram. “Micro-calcifications may be suspicious, for example, or the density of the mammary gland requires this second examination”.

Organized screening offers a double reading of mammograms. “It's precious. In the second reading, we still find 5% of cancers not seen in the first reading”, explains Ancuta Sivu who participates in it at the Gard-Lozère screening center.

For younger women, screening can be individual. “From the age of 25, you should regularly self-palpate your breasts and, if in doubt, consult”, she insists.

Biopsy under local anesthesia

When a tumor appears on the mammogram, as on the screen behind Doctor Ancuta Sivu where she shows us a white star-shaped spot – “that's ugly, it's infiltrating",she grimaces –, we must move on to the biopsy stage. An invasive procedure, which she delicately explains to patients. The biopsy, with local anesthesia, is done under ultrasound or mammography. And even hypnosis for stressed women. "The result is always announced at the hospital. The first announcement is the most important. We take it step by step. If the patient is in shock, she will no longer hear anything.” The important thing is that after the announcement, care begins immediately.

One in eight women will have breast cancer, but if detected early, it is 90% curable. A prognosis that falls to 26% when it is caught too late… "We still see women, in denial, arriving with very advanced grade 3 while screening saves lives".

Contact : women's imaging 04 66 68 52 50 or by email imagerie.icg@chu-nimes.fr

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