Introduction
October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is a common cancer with around 2.3 million cases every year. Approximately 99% of breast cancers occur in women and 0.5–1% of breast cancers occur in men. Female gender is one of the breast cancer risk factors. Although early detection and early treatment provide positive outcomes for breast cancer, late diagnosis, availability of medical services and financial problems are major barriers for breast cancer treatment.
Contents
Symptoms of breast cancer
Most people will not experience any symptoms when the cancer is in its early stage. Hence regular screening is important for early detection.
In late stage of breast cancer, the following symptoms may be seen:
- a breast lump (often without pain)
- change in size and shape of the breast
- dimpling, redness in the skin
- change in nipple appearance
- abnormal discharge from the nipple.
If you feel an abnormal breast lump, you should seek medical care, even if the lump does not hurt.
Treatments of breast cancer
Treatment for breast cancer depends on the type of cancer and how much it has spread. These include:
- surgery to remove the breast tumour;
- radiation therapy to reduce recurrence risk in the breast and surrounding tissues; and
- medications to kill cancer cells and prevent spread, including hormonal therapies, chemotherapy or targeted biological therapies.
Treatments for breast cancer are more effective when started early and taken to completion. Completing the full course of treatment is the vital role for breast cancer treatment. Partial treatment is less likely to lead to a positive outcome.
The Costs and Breast Cancer
In fact, breast cancer is a type of critical illness that the cost of its treatment is very expensive. The early stage of breast cancer will cost less than the late stage. But the later the stage, the higher the cost.
The cost of breast cancer treatment will start from screening and investigations (eg. mammogram, biopsies) to surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy. And the special medications for targeted therapies are quite costly. In addition to this, we have to consider the costs of several clinic visits and hospitalisation during treatment. All of these can throw the patient into financial problems.
The inability of patients to work during treatment results in lost income and will spend the savings.
The outcome of breast cancer is the best if the patient can complete the whole course but the financial problems and treatment costs will hinder the effective treatment. In this way, the partial treatment will put the patient into a life threatening condition.
Professional Advice
To prevent such heartache, it is best to cover it with health insurance.
PRUFlexiprotect CI is financial coverage for critical illnesses like breast cancer and it will help to get treatment without worrying about costs. It will protect you from financial burden and draining of savings during your breast cancer treatment. So, protect with PRUFlexiprotect CI to complete your treatment course and better outcomes.
Learn more about PRUFlexiprotect CI here.
References
WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative: Breast cancer awareness month https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2024/10/01/default-calendar/who-global-breast-cancer-initiative--breast-cancer-awareness-month Accessed date Sept 21, 2025
Breast cancer https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer Accessed date Sept 21, 2025
Healthcare use and costs in early breast cancer: a patient-level data analysis according to stage and breast cancer subtype https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2059702920327496 Accessed date Sept 21, 2025
