Papua New Guinea Oncology Nurses Association President, Peter Fore, is urging women to seek immediate medical assessment upon noticing any unusual changes in their breasts, warning that delaying a diagnosis makes clinical treatment far more difficult, invasive, and costly. 

Speaking on Friday, Mr. Fore, an oncology specialist with experience in the United States, said early detection and timely referral were important in helping patients access appropriate cancer care. He said women should not ignore breast changes or rely on repeated courses of antibiotics and painkillers without establishing the cause of their symptoms.

 “Cancer does not respond to antibiotics; it responds to cancer treatment,” Mr. Fore said.

 He explained that symptoms could persist or return after medication, making it important for patients to seek professional medical advice if a problem continued. Mr. Fore said the cancer treatment journey could be lengthy, sometimes taking six months to a year, depending on the type of cancer and the treatment plan required.

 He said women should consult health professionals for assessment, particularly if they had a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors. Depending on a woman's age, symptoms and individual risk, doctors could recommend an ultrasound scan, mammogram or other appropriate investigations.

Mr. Fore explained that mammograms could help identify suspicious changes in breast tissue, including abnormalities that might not be noticeable through physical examination alone. He said further assessment was necessary when screening identified a suspicious finding, allowing doctors to determine the appropriate next steps.

Mr. Fore also stressed the importance of following the correct referral pathway so patients could move from initial assessment to diagnostic testing and treatment where necessary. He said cancer awareness should not be limited to October, which was observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, because cancer affected both men and women throughout the year.

Mr. Fore said continuous public education was needed to encourage people to recognize warning signs, seek medical advice early and understand the importance of regular health checks.

He encouraged women to take their health seriously and avoid waiting until symptoms became severe before seeking medical help.

Depending on a patient's age, specific symptoms, and hereditary risk factors, medical professionals utilize specialized diagnostic tools to catch abnormalities early:

• Mammograms: Crucial for identifying suspicious changes in breast tissue, including deep abnormalities that cannot be felt through a manual physical examination.

• Ultrasound Scans: Frequently used to investigate localized lumps, especially in younger women with denser breast tissue.

• Biopsies and Referrals: Executed immediately when screening flags a suspicious finding, ensuring the patient moves rapidly from initial assessment to active treatment.