Literature shows that 20 percent of benign lesions (tissue damage) have a potential to become malignant or cancerous. Therefore, because they are the product of mutations, they can remain benign or progress to malignancy.
What is a Benign Lesion?
Benign lesions are abnormal cell growths in the body that are noncancerous, usually harmless, develop slowly, and do not spread to other areas of the body (metastasize). These can appear in various parts of the body, such as the skin, breasts, and internal organs.
Although generally not life-threatening, benign lesions can cause health problems if they grow larger or press on surrounding organs.
Benign Lesions That Can Become Malignant
If a benign lesion is found in the body, it doesn't necessarily mean it will remain benign forever. Some lesions can change from benign to malignant.
For example, if there are lumps on the skin (lipomas), we don't know when they mutate from lipoma to liposarcoma, which is malignant.
Early Diagnosis of Lesions for Appropriate Treatment
Therefore, diagnosing the condition of the lesion is crucial. One method of diagnosing cancer is a PET scan, which helps doctors identify the location of malignant cells.
For example, breast cancer is primarily located in the breast. However, has it spread to other organs such as the bones, lungs, or brain? Therefore, to determine the exact location of the tumor, we need a highly sensitive test .
More Accurate Cancer Diagnosis with PET/CT Scans
PET scans are known as a sensitive diagnostic method; they help doctors pinpoint the exact location of cancer-causing lesions. This allows them to determine the appropriate treatment.
Now, cancer examination with PET scan is even more sensitive with the addition of CT scan or also called PET/CT Scan.
A PET/CT scan is a device that captures radiation to localize cancer in greater detail, clarity, and in three dimensions (3D). The examination is performed after an initial diagnosis of a tumor or cancer has been made.
Early Detection of Cancer That Often Has No Symptoms
Early detection of cancer is crucial, as the disease often shows no obvious symptoms in its early stages. In the early stages, cancer may only be characterized by a lump without any other symptoms.
For example, in breast cancer, a lump can be felt even if it's not painful. Therefore, women of childbearing age are encouraged to perform regular breast self-examinations (SAdari) every month.
Realize and Sadanis as Detection Efforts
Some things that need to be considered in clinical breast examinations (Sadanis) and breast self-examinations (Sadari) are:
- Look for lumps in your breasts that don't go away.
- Lumps are usually not painful , although in some cases they can cause pain related to the menstrual cycle.
- Before menstruation , your breasts may feel tense or sore. After your period ends, feel the sore area again to check for any lumps.
- If the lump does not disappear within three consecutive menstrual cycles , immediately do a clinical breast examination (Sadanis) to confirm the condition further.
If you find a lump in your breast that doesn't go away even after several menstrual cycles, don't delay seeing a doctor. A medical examination will help confirm the condition, allowing for a more accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Early detection is very important to increase the chances of successful therapy and prevent the disease from developing to a more serious stage.
This article is based on the Healthy Monday program, a collaboration between EMC Healthcare and Liputan6, with speakers Dr. Junan Imaniar Pribadi, Sp.KN-TM., FANMB. (Nuclear Medicine Specialist at EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital) and Dr. Reza Musmarliansyah, Sp.B (K) Onk, FICRS (Surgical Oncology Consultant at EMC Pulomas Hospital).