A program that will provide free MRI screenings for the early detection of breast cancer to meager-income women, was launched in Ho Chi Minh City, said the Hoan My Clinic.

The program is sponsored by the Charity Fund named Dr. Nguyen Huu Tung, Mr. Allen Yu and Taipei Medical University, and Hoan My Breast Care Center (Hoan My Clinic). It began in June 10. 

The Hoan My Breast Care Center provided free mammograms (conducted by Aurora Breast MRI 1.5 Tesla) to about 100 poor Vietnamese women considered by doctors to be at high risk for breast cancer.

In order for inclusion in the program, women must be examined by doctors from Hoan My hospital, or Ho Chi Minh Cancer hospital, Cho Ray hospital, HCM Medical University hospital, Hung Vuong hospital, Tu Du hospital, or the FV hospital in the city.

The breast MRI cases are allocated to the various hospitals.  Now, Hoan My Breast Care Center has been examining potential breast cancer cases with Aurora Breast MRI.

The program’s total expenditures total around VND420 million.

According to WHO, breast cancer is one of the most common diseases among women, accounting for 23% of cancer cases. The number of breast cancer cases has been rapidly increasing, going up between 1.5% and 7% per year.

According to Viet Nam Union Against Cancer, Ha Noi city has highest number of breast cancer patients, and Ho Chi Minh city is the second. Can Tho, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, and Thua Thien Hue provinces also rank among the regions suffering from the most cases of breast cancer.

The incidence of breast cancer increases for women aged 30-40 and the ratio for women in their 60’s is 128/100.000.

Dr. Duc Ba Nguyen, PhD. MD - President of Viet Nam Union Against Cancer says about 80% of breast cancer cases are curable, if detected early.

Early screenings are one important factor that determines the success of treatment for breast cancer patients. A breast MRI (including biopsy) is considered the “Gold Standard” for cancer screening and detecting.

For further information, please contact: Hoan My Breast Care Center (Hoan My Clinic), located at 72/1 Tran Quoc Toan st., Ward 8, Dist. 3, in HCM City.
 
By Uyen Phuong
From SGGP Online