The information described here is based on Guelsen Eray own opinions Guelsen was not paid for her testimony.
Guelsen Eray, 40, is a breath and life coach and lives with her two daughters and husband in Istanbul. She shares her experience of going from one day being a healthy woman to the next day receiving the shock of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
A month prior to her 40th birthday, Guelsen made the spontaneous decision to make an appointment with her healthcare consultant to get breast screening done. This proved to be a life-changer. After a thorough consultation with her personal physician and noticing her very high breast density, her physician recommended she undertake an Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) examination.
As dense breast tissue and cancer appear white on a mammogram, potentially camouflaging small cancers, ABUS can be used as a supplemental technology which is recommended often for women with dense breast tissue.
The InveniaTM ABUS is the first FDA-approved ABUS supplementing ultrasound screening technology specifically designed for detecting dense breast tissue that may be hidden on mammography.
As a patient experiencing ABUS for the first time, Guelsen’s recollection of the exam was extremely positive. “I didn’t experience any form of discomfort or pain during the scan.” Due to the exam being non-invasive and patient friendly, Guelsen wasn’t exposed to any type of ionizing radiation, which said gave her “peace of mind.”
After the short exam, Guelsen was immediately called in for a discussion about the scan results. “The examining physician had unfortunately found a mass and said they wanted to undertake a further biopsy before confirming any suspicions,” said Guelsen. “The biopsy results confirmed everyone’s worse nightmares and fears: an invasive breast cancer had been found.” Her physician informed her that they had no time to waste, and that treatment had to commence straight away.
Guelsen’s physician explained each step of the journey she had to undertake in order to successfully complete treatment.” I did not listen to a word he said, as I was full of emotions which manifested in a mixture of fears and anxiety,” she said.
“I am extremely grateful to the physician for recommending the use of ABUS screening and attention given to me by my physician,” recalled Guelsen. “I was lucky to have cancer detected on both my breasts early enough to start treatment. I dread to think if the cancer wasn’t caught on time. Now that I have successfully completed treatment, I am very thankful and have a positive outlook to life, appreciating each and every day life has to offer.” Guelsen noted she still requires blood tests and will continue to have regular breast examinations in case the cancer reappears at some stage of her life.
She made the decision to go for screening at the age of 40, despite having no history of cancer in her family. Her advice to other women is, “don’t skip your breast examinations.”
Currently, Guelsen is working as a breathing and life coach, trying to help others by providing insights and guidance to those experiencing what she experienced in this tough journey called breast cancer. In Guelsen’s case, as she has dense breasts, having the automated breast ultrasound may have saved her life.
Clinical and academic studies conducted in U.S. and Europe have shown that 40% of women have dense breasts 1 and that 71% of breast cancers occur in dense breast.2 It is also known that statistically women with dense breasts are four to six times more likely to get breast cancer than women with fatty breasts3 and are twice the risk of developing contralateral breast cancer.4 We also know that 50% of breast cancer might be missed in extremely dense breasts.5
Therefore, knowing one’s breast density should remain at the forefront of any breast cancer conversation. The European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) is now recommending changes to educating, empowering and informing women of their breast density and alternatives screening options available in addition to mammography. Studies have shown that women who are well informed about their screening options and the implications of their results are more likely to adhere to screening recommendations and follow-up care, which is vital for better outcomes in breast cancer management.6
Learn how about Invenia™ ABUS is transforming the breast cancer journey for your patients with dense breasts.
https://www.gehealthcare.com/campaigns/automated-breast ultrasound?showPopup=false
References:
- Pisano et al. NEJM 2005; 353: 1773
- Arora N, King TA, Jacks LM., Ann Surg Onc, 2010; 17:S211-18.
- Boyd NF et al. NEJM 2007; 356: 227-36.
- Raghavendra A, et al, Cancer, January 2017.
- Kolb et al, Radiology, Oct 2002;225(1):165-75.
- Rimer, B. K., Briss, P. A., Zeller, P. K., Chan, E. C., & Woolf, S. H. (2004). Informed decision making: what is its role in cancer screening? Cancer, 101(S5), 1214-1228.
- Brem RF, Tabár L, et.al. Radiology. 2015 Mar; 274(3): 663-73.-
- Wilczek, et.al.; European Journal of Radiology 85 (2016) 1554–1563
9. Wenhui Ren, Youlin Qiao, et.al.; 2023; The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inchttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2023.02.026
