EARLY DIAGNOSIS EXTENDS LIFE BY 7 YEARS, CUTS TREATMENT COSTS BY A FACTOR OF 7

Results on early detection and treatment were shared at the Pink Festival organized by the Breast Health Association (MEMEDER) to draw attention to early diagnosis within Breast Cancer Awareness Month. MEMEDER Founder and Honorary President Prof. Dr. Vahit Özmen announced at the festival, which brought together patients diagnosed with breast cancer and their relatives, that patients treated with early diagnosis lived 7 years longer, treatment costs were 7 times cheaper, and breast screening provided significant contribution to the country's economy. The Breast Health Association MEMEDER, within the framework of "Breast Cancer Awareness Month," held the second Pink Festival this year at Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital. The festival, aimed at bringing together patients diagnosed with breast cancer and their relatives and presenting recent developments regarding breast cancer and its treatment, was marked by a discussion led by renowned journalist Ayşe Arman with MEMEDER Founder and Honorary President Prof. Dr. Vahit Özmen, MEMEDER Board Chairman Ülkü Büyükgönenç and Acclaimed Actress Işıl Yücesoy, who overcame breast cancer.

Vahit Özmen: "Turkish women delay breast examination by 15 months on average"

In his speech at the festival, MEMEDER Founder and Honorary President Prof. Dr. Vahit Özmen provided information on breast cancer cases and early diagnosis in Turkey, stating: "Cancer is an important problem for both Turkey and the world. According to 2016 data from the World Health Organization, 17 million people are diagnosed with cancer annually worldwide and 9 million people are lost to cancer. Among these figures, breast cancer occupies a very important place. In breast cancer, approximately 2 million people are diagnosed annually and approximately 600,000 people are lost. In short, we can say breast cancer is a leading cancer type worldwide. In our research, we found that in Turkey, women delay their medical examination by an average of 15 months. One third of the reasons for late visits stem from the women themselves. They fear being diagnosed with cancer, they don't accept it for themselves or similar reasons... As MEMEDER, we are working to identify all delay factors and eliminate these delays. We have our Pink Princesses who go door to door and essentially force women to undergo examination and mammography screening. This project of ours was presented as an example at a congress held in Vienna. We have 82% participation. For 10 years, 82 out of 100 women are able to come. This rate is at the 60% level even in America," he said.

Vahit Özmen: "Early diagnosis both extends life by 7 years and reduces costs by 7 times"

Noting that delayed breast cancer diagnosis leads to increased state health expenditures, Prof. Dr. Vahit Özmen stated: "At Bahçeşehir Diagnosis Center, we have screened 10,000 people to date and diagnosed 125 breast cancers. 85% of these were stage 0 or stage 1. This means 100% of these patients can live normal lives like people without a cancer diagnosis, and approximately 90% can have their breast preserved. Moreover, the life expectancy of patients treated as a result of early diagnosis is on average 7 years longer than patients who go to the doctor with a mass. Population-based screening is economically beneficial for the country, offers patients longer and healthier lives, protects patients from treatment complications, has a positive moral impact on the patient's family, and prevents job loss in general. When all these factors are considered, it is seen that it costs the state 7 times less," he said.

Işıl Yücesoy: "We neglect ourselves and many things go wrong"

In the session titled 'MEMEDER's Past, Present and Future' moderated by Ayşe Arman, renowned actress Işıl Yücesoy, noting that she went to the doctor 2 months late due to her own negligence, stated: "Since my mother was also a breast cancer patient, I was someone with awareness and had actually noticed it. But during that period I neglected it because I was shooting a series. Also, they say cancer doesn't hurt, but I had severe pain and I understood something was wrong. I neglected the check-up for 2 months and when I went into the sea on vacation, I felt unbearable pain and immediately went for examination. In general, we women neglect ourselves. In fact, many times things related to us go wrong. To people diagnosed with cancer I want to say this: Don't push yourself so hard and don't question yourself. This can happen to any of us. Also, don't talk about it much. The more it's discussed, the more the people in front of you start talking about their own problems and your motivation is affected," she said. Following the session, the pink wellness necklaces (Sakajewa) made by Ayşe Arman were put up for sale at a stand set up in the lobby for the benefit of MEMEDER. At the festival, patients who underwent breast cancer treatment and their relatives also had an enjoyable time with Aromatherapy Specialist Hande Polat making pink lipstick and underarm (roll-on) deodorant from natural ingredients. The Pink Festival continued until 7 October Sunday at 19:00. The Pink Festival was prepared with the valuable contributions of Nestlé Nesfit, Koton, Penti, FLO Shoes, Roche, Avon, Arista Medical, Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital, Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul and Başakşehir Municipality.