Several hundred new cases of breast cancer are discovered in Montenegro every year.

According to Dr. Sanja Lekić, an oncologist at the Clinical Center of Montenegro (KCCG), around 400 to 420 new cases of breast cancer are detected in Montenegro annually.

He points out that young women, even those under 40, are increasingly seeking treatment.

"These are women who are in full vitality, often not yet mothers, and that is why it is important that we think about them as well, not just the population covered by screening, from 50 to 74 years old," Lekić said on Boje jutra on Vijesti Television.

According to estimates by Dr. Mladen Filipović, a radiologist, the number of new cases is even higher, around 600 to 700 per year, if cases discovered in private practices are included.

"The private and public sectors should not be viewed separately. Both do work in the public interest. It is important that the doctor who examines the breast has experience and training, as well as that the equipment is specifically adjusted for the breast, with a special probe and a medical monitor. Only in this way can diagnostics be accurate," Filipović said on Boje jutra.

Doctors point out symptoms that should be addressed immediately, such as palpable changes in the breast, skin changes, inverted nipples, breast deformity, and persistent or recurring pain.

"Breast cancer can exist without symptoms, which is why prevention is most important. Self-examination, ultrasound and mammography are the three basic methods of early detection of the disease," says Filipović.

According to Lekić, new targeted and biological therapies have significantly changed the prognosis of breast cancer.

"For many subtypes of the disease, we are now talking about complete cure. In HER2-positive cancer, for example, our results are fully comparable to those worldwide, with more than 60 percent of patients responding completely to therapy," said Lekić.

Filipović emphasizes that trust is the key to success.

"Every woman is a potential patient, but also our partner in treatment. The relationship of trust between doctor and patient is key. Don't wait until October, get checked as soon as you can, and do self-exams regularly. Learn what your breast looks like under your arm. It can save a life," Filipović emphasizes.