Key Takeaways:
- Late-stage diagnosis is a major issue in Kyrgyzstan, with 60–70% of breast cancer cases detected at advanced stages due to stigma, fear, pain concerns, equipment shortages, and limited screening access—yet early detection makes it one of the most treatable cancers.
- Patient-controlled 3D mammography (like GE Senographe Pristina) dramatically improves comfort and accuracy: women self-manage compression via remote, often achieving better results with less pain, reduced radiation, clearer images (especially in dense breasts), and higher detection of invasive/interval cancers via tomosynthesis slices.
- Digitization, private centers, and AI as a physician assistant are advancing early detection in Kyrgyzstan—integrating with national programs like Sanaрip MED for better tracking, standardization, and patient-friendly screening, while emphasizing empathy, education, and making advanced tech routine through training young specialists.
Breast Cancer in Kyrgyzstan
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In countries like Kyrgyzstan where more than 20,000 women have been diagnosed with this disease and many rural residents likely die without diagnosis, awareness and early screening are particularly important. Recently, opportunities have emerged for this – world-class specialists and equipment that allows mammography to be performed quickly and painlessly, says Zhyrgalbek Zhakypov, member of the Association of Radiologists of the Kyrgyz Republic. One of Dr. Zhakypov’s priority areas is high-tech breast disease diagnostics using 3D imaging. We spoke about the digitization of cancer screening in Central Asia, the advantages and limitations of artificial intelligence, and the role of private medicine in addressing the nationwide challenge of early breast cancer detection.
– For over 30 years, October worldwide has been dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness, yet many women still neglect screening. The situation with this disease in Kyrgyzstan remains troubling. How much is this connected to insufficient engagement of women in early diagnosis?
– Indeed, according to statistics, up to 60–70% of breast cancer cases in our country are detected at late stages, when the disease has progressed beyond a localized process, and delayed diagnosis is the key factor here. There are many reasons we can’t reach everyone who needs screening – from shortages of specialists and equipment to sociocultural factors. In Central Asian countries, breast cancer is still largely stigmatized; for many women this disease is associated with feelings of guilt and fear of social isolation. Not everyone knows that breast cancer detected at an early stage is one of the most successfully treatable cancers and that modern diagnostic methods are safe and painless.
– For many women mammography is associated with fear and pain, but your patients are unlikely to be among them. You work with the GE Senographe Pristina system, which is considered far more comfortable than traditional mammography machines. Does this affect women’s attitudes toward regular screenings?
– Absolutely, because fear of a painful procedure is a serious barrier to diagnosis. When a woman fears pain, her muscles tense up. This prevents the technologist from properly positioning the breast, which reduces image quality and sometimes leads to missed pathology. The system we use allows for self-compression – the patient receives a remote control and can personally manage the degree of breast compression. The Senographe Pristina was created with active participation from women engineers and designers, and is therefore considered more comfortable than conventional mammography machines. The paradox is that when a woman controls the process herself, she often applies even greater compression than what the technologist would dare to use. And for me as a radiologist, high compression means a thinner tissue layer, less scattered radiation, and a clear image with lower radiation exposure, which means the possibility of accurate diagnosis.
– Since you’ve mentioned accuracy, one of the main problems in breast cancer screening is high breast tissue density, which can hide tumors. You perform diagnostics using tomosynthesis technology, which allows for more accurate disease detection in the presence of this characteristic. Does this help fight cancer in Kyrgyzstan, where, as you mentioned, cancer is often discovered at advanced stages?
– Indeed, this is a serious problem when it comes to traditional 2D mammography: with dense breast tissue, tissues overlap on the image, making it difficult to see tumors. I perform 3D mammography using tomosynthesis – a technology that produces a series of one-millimeter slices. This is very helpful in cases where patients have dense breasts. Thanks to 3D technology, we also find significantly more cases of invasive cancer, including at stages when it’s still curable. Additionally, tomosynthesis is effective at detecting so-called interval cancers – aggressive tumors that may be discovered between routine screenings because conventional X-rays miss them.
– Kyrgyzstan is currently implementing the “Sanaрip MED” healthcare digitization program, aimed at improving the accessibility and quality of medical care, including mammography screening. You work at a private diagnostic center. Do you consider yourself a participant in this nationwide process?
– Absolutely. Mammography is one of those areas where digitization produces the most tangible effect. Working at a private diagnostic center, I see daily how modern digital solutions help create a more accurate and understandable screening pathway for women, especially within screening programs. Electronic image storage and protocol standardization allow us to track changes in breast tissue over time, compare studies from different years and identify clinically significant changes more quickly. For screening this is fundamentally important: we often work with early asymptomatic stages. Private centers in this sense often become points of advanced technology implementation, including systems focused on patient comfort. Thanks to modern equipment and physician qualifications, private clinics enable women to perceive mammography not as stress but as a normal part of caring for their health. This is how private diagnostics integrates into the nationwide task of early breast cancer detection.
– You speak of digital mammography and 3D tomosynthesis as the standard for modern screening. The logical continuation of digitization in your field is the implementation of artificial intelligence algorithms. How do you assess the role of AI in mammography?
– Artificial intelligence in mammography today is no longer an experiment but a working tool gradually entering clinical practice. It allows for more accurate identification of suspicious areas, structures the image, and enables the physician to focus on truly significant changes. This is especially important when the volume of studies is large and signs of pathology are barely noticeable. At the same time, I fundamentally don’t view AI as a replacement for the physician. The algorithm doesn’t see the patient, doesn’t know their clinical history, hormonal status, comorbidities, and individual risk factors. Speaking of the future, I see AI in mammography as a physician’s assistant that increases screening reliability and helps standardize diagnostics. For Kyrgyzstan and the entire region, this could be an important step toward reducing the number of missed early forms of breast cancer.
– I know you communicate a lot with both beginning medical professionals and recognized experts – as a mentor to residents at your center and as a jury member for the “Best Talents – 2024” award. What do you see as your own mission and the mission of your colleagues in the near future?
– I’d like to make advanced technologies routine. My colleagues and I plan to expand screening programs, emphasizing early detection, and pass on our experience to young physicians. Teaching them not only to read images but also to talk with patients to relieve anxiety, explain complex things in simple language. Specialists who have professionalism, empathy, and access to such advanced technologies as 3D imaging are fully capable of fighting breast cancer and the fear surrounding it.
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FAQs
Why is breast cancer often diagnosed late in Kyrgyzstan? Up to 60–70% of cases are detected at advanced stages due to stigma, fear, pain concerns, equipment shortages, and limited access to screening.
How does stigma affect breast cancer screening in Central Asia? Many women associate breast cancer with guilt, shame, or social isolation, leading them to avoid screening or delay seeking help.
What makes mammography painful for some women? Traditional compression can cause discomfort; tense muscles from fear reduce image quality and may miss issues.
What is the GE Senographe Pristina system? A patient-friendly mammography machine designed with input from women, featuring self-compression for better comfort and control.
How does self-compression work in the Senographe Pristina? Patients use a remote control to adjust breast compression themselves, often applying more than a technologist would, improving image quality with less pain.
Why does better compression improve mammography results? It creates a thinner tissue layer, reduces scattered radiation, lowers radiation dose, and produces clearer images for accurate diagnosis.
What is 3D mammography or tomosynthesis? It takes multiple 1-mm slices of the breast, building a 3D view to see through overlapping tissue.
How does 3D mammography help with dense breasts? Dense tissue can hide tumors in 2D images; 3D slices separate layers, improving detection of cancers that might be missed.
Does 3D mammography detect more cancers than 2D? Yes, it finds more invasive cancers, including interval cancers (aggressive ones appearing between screenings), especially in dense breasts.
Is 3D mammography safe in terms of radiation? It often uses lower effective radiation due to better compression and clearer images, while providing superior diagnostic accuracy.
What is the role of private diagnostic centers in Kyrgyzstan? They implement advanced tech like 3D mammography faster, making screening more comfortable and integrating with national efforts for early detection.
How does healthcare digitization help with breast cancer screening? Programs like Sanaрip MED enable electronic storage, standardized protocols, and easy comparison of past and current images to track changes quickly.
Can AI replace radiologists in reading mammograms? No—AI assists by highlighting suspicious areas but lacks patient history, clinical context, and holistic judgment.
What benefits does AI offer in mammography? It improves accuracy in spotting subtle issues, structures images, reduces missed early cancers, and helps manage high screening volumes.
Who should get regular breast cancer screening? Women (especially over 40–50) should screen routinely; early detection makes breast cancer one of the most treatable cancers.
How can fear of pain be reduced during mammography? Using comfortable systems like self-compression and patient education helps women relax and view screening as routine health care.
What is the goal for young radiologists in Kyrgyzstan? To make advanced 3D imaging routine, expand screening, and teach empathy alongside technical skills to reduce patient anxiety.
Why is early detection so important for breast cancer? When caught early (localized stage), it’s highly treatable with better outcomes and less aggressive treatment needed.
How do modern tools change women’s attitudes toward screening? Comfort-focused equipment and clear explanations turn mammography from a stressful experience into proactive self-care.
What is Dr. Zhyrgalbek Zhakypov’s mission? To promote early detection through technology, training, and patient communication to fight both breast cancer and surrounding fear/stigma.
Final Thoughts
Breast cancer remains a pressing challenge in Kyrgyzstan, where late-stage diagnoses continue to dominate due to stigma, limited access, and historical barriers—yet the path forward is clear and achievable. As Dr. Zhyrgalbek Zhakypov emphasizes, making advanced, patient-centered technologies like 3D tomosynthesis and comfortable self-compression mammography routine can transform outcomes by catching cancers earlier, when they are most treatable.
For women: Prioritize your health—discuss screening with your doctor starting around age 40 (or earlier if higher risk), overcome fear through education and empathy-driven care, and view mammography as proactive self-care rather than a source of anxiety. Modern tools reduce pain and improve accuracy, especially for dense breasts common in many populations.
For healthcare leaders and policymakers: Accelerate integration of digitization (e.g., Sanaрip MED expansions), pilot organized screening programs nationwide (building on 2021–2025 strategies), incorporate AI as a supportive tool for radiologists, and invest in training to build a compassionate, tech-savvy workforce. Private centers can lead innovation while collaborating with public efforts to reach rural areas.
Ultimately, early detection saves lives and reduces suffering. By destigmatizing breast cancer, expanding access to painless 3D screening, and fostering empathy alongside expertise, Kyrgyzstan can shift toward a future where more women thrive beyond diagnosis. The tools exist—now is the time to make them routine for every woman.
References
American Cancer Society. (2025). 2D vs. 3D mammograms: Understanding the differences. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/latest-news/2d-vs-3d-mammograms-understanding-the-differences.html
Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Breast tomosynthesis. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/15939-digital-breast-tomosynthesis-and-breast-cancer-screening
Mayo Clinic. (2024). 3D mammogram. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/3d-mammogram/about/pac-20438708
* Zhyrgalbek Zhakypov is a diagnostic radiologist and expert in multi-slice computed tomography and 3D mammography. Member of the Association of Radiologists of the Kyrgyz Republic. Jury member for the “Best Talents – 2024” award.
