Downloads: 87 | Views: 209

Informative Article | Medicine Science | Albania | Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2014

Albanian Doctors Extended Knowledge and Restricted Resources in Management of Breast Cancers High Risk Women

Albana SHAHINI PhD | Erinda KOSTURI MD ^[2]

Abstract: AIM: It has been widely acknowledged for decades the importance of family history of breast cancer in development of such condition in women. This factor has exponentially increased the need of further assessment in this high risk category; including the genetic screening. This articles objective is to present doctors potential against restricted resources in the management of high risk women. MATERIALS: This is an informative article that underlines the lack of possibility of Albanian doctors to identify and categorize women; based on family history; into low ; moderate and high risk; depending upon the assessed lifetime risk of breast cancer using the genetic screening. Instead; what we can do; are detailed anamnesis; excellent care and assumptions of low ; moderate and high risk patients. We struggle; to identify high risk lesions and high risk women and afterwards create single follow-up protocols; with no precedents which makes it hard to sustain these women through the path of their potential condition. RESULTS: Results of such approach; often fail us; not the patients; but us. Referring to and trying to adopt follow-up protocols; have a poor outcome; for reasons which will be explained further on; in this article. Even though we are highly aware of unproven long term results of approaches such as genetic screening chemoprevention and preventing surgery ; we still belive that access to these alternatives can help identify and therefore prevent and treat at the best of our possibilities women for which the fate (genes and / or environment) decided to play an awful game. CONCLUSIONS: Predictive testing and radical approaches are a reality for a minority of families these days. Having access to such resources would open new perspectives to high risk women when it comes to breast disease. We are aware that these wont change radically the outcome; but might give a chance for better care; to patients.

Keywords: albana shahini, erinda kosturi, breast cancer, brca1, brca2, prophylactic mastectomy, prophylactic oophorectomy, albanian doctors, albanian studies, li fraumeni syndrome, p53, familial cancer, hrt, oc, chemiotherapy, radiotherapy, risk, cumulative risk, genetic testing, preventive surgery, genetic syndromes, hereditary cancer,

Edition: Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2014,

Pages: 1827 - 1830