Doctor: Breast Cancer Often Detected Too Late

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Surgical oncology subspecialist Dr. I Gusti Ayu Nari Laksmi Dewi, SpB, Subsp.Onk (K), has stated that breast cancer remains one of the types of cancer most often detected late in women. She noted that breast cancer cases in women are the most prevalent and fastest growing because there is no vaccine for it. “With breast cancer, it suddenly becomes large, already at an advanced stage, even though the patient says the lump was only small,” said Dr. Gusti Ayu at the Kaiser Cancer Center, BSD City, Tangerang, on Thursday. Dr. Gusti Ayu observed that many patients still come to the hospital when the breast cancer has already reached an advanced stage, partly because they previously opted for alternative medicine. Upon examination at healthcare facilities, it is often found that the patient’s tumour is already large, and in some cases has become a malodorous wound. According to her, if the disease is diagnosed earlier, the surgery is less complicated, treatment costs are lower, and the need for follow-up therapy can be minimised according to the patient’s condition. “It is better if we provide mammography for medical check-up programmes earlier, and breast ultrasound for younger women. That way, we can catch early-stage cancers,” said the doctor who practices at Pasar Minggu Regional General Hospital. Data from BPJS Kesehatan shows an increasing trend in breast cancer cases, rising by approximately 860,000 from 1,080,410 cases in 2021 to 1,941,410 cases in 2025, accompanied by a rise in verified costs from around Rp1.03 trillion to Rp1.99 trillion. BPJS Kesehatan Head of Public Relations Rizzky Anugerah said this increase confirms that breast cancer remains one of the catastrophic diseases with a very significant service and financing burden on the National Health Insurance (JKN) programme. Through the JKN programme, the agency guarantees that female participants can access various health services at every stage of life, including early detection of breast cancer.