adminJoining other people from around the world, Zimbabweans from all walks of life made pink their colour of choice during the month of October as they raised awareness about the dangers of breast cancer.
Pink is the designated colour for the month of October, a month during which people take the fight to breast cancer, a scourge that has claimed many lives around the globe.
Breast cancer awareness is an effort to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of breast cancer through education on symptoms and treatment. Supporters hope that greater knowledge will lead to earlier detection of breast cancer, which is associated with higher long-term survival rates, and that money raised for breast cancer will produce a reliable, permanent cure.
As a country that has lost many lives at the hands of various forms of cancer, the spirited campaign in Zimbabwe was a welcome move, as it showed that the relevant authorities and the people at large were wising up to the dangers of cancer.
When one looks at the cancer statistics in Zimbabwe, one can conclude that such a zealous drive was apt. The statistics make for terrifying reading, with revelations that cancer has overtaken HIV as the deadliest taker of Zimbabwean life.
According to statistics from the National Cancer Registry, there are 5 000 new cases every year.
Statistics recorded in 2014 showed that 2 474 people died while an additional 7 018 new cases were recorded.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care indicate that 7 000 new cancer cases are reported annually with only some 1 300 to 2 000 treated with radiotherapy.
Worldwide, cancer is responsible for 7,6 million deaths, two thirds of which are recorded in low-middle income countries. A study published in the International Journal of Cancer indicated that cancer patients in the capital Harare are not likely to survive five years after diagnosis at present levels of care.
Studies show that one in eight women will have breast cancer in their lifetime with the ailment second only to cervical cancer as a killer.
With such scary figures, one can see why Zimbabweans from all walks of life took the opportunity to raise awareness about the scourge during the month of October.
However, despite sincere efforts of all and sundry, one wonders if this is enough.
Over 80 percent of cancer cases are diagnosed at end stage in Zimbabwe, meaning that many lives are lost as most live in ignorance of the disease. Early detection has been sighted as the greatest deterrent for cancer but Zimbabweans have been hard to convince as many find out about cancer when it is already too late.
The reason why cancer may have overtaken HIV as the most prolific killer in Zimbabwe may be due to the fact that efforts to tackle the latter go on throughout the year and not during a particular month.
Wherever one goes they are bombarded with messages spreading awareness about HIV and how it can be combated. It is simply not the case for cancer.
a�?People are also dying because of lack of knowledge, knowledge to know healthy lifestyles to follow, knowledge to know the importance of screening early and knowledge to know what to do should they suspect that they have cancer,a�? Cancer Association of Zimbabwe information, research and evaluation officer Mr Lovemore Makurirofa was quoted as saying.
For the cancer scourge to be eradicated, awareness will have to go beyond the month of October. . . .
Online Reporter