adminJoan Tsikira Review Writer
Mercy (not her real name) of Mutoko is one of the women who tested positive for breast cancer in Harare this month. The 26-year-old mother of three counts herself lucky in spite of having been diagnosed with the Big C. The Cancer Registry says of the total 2 062 cancer deaths recorded in Harare in 2013, 951 were males and 1 111 females.
“In my village few people ever visit the clinic except for emergencies. It is about seven kilometres away and staffed by nurses and no doctors. So it is only good for child immunisation and minor ailments. For serious things you are referred to Mutoko General Hospital and you need money to travel there and then pay for the treatments.”
Mercy says most people in her village rely on herbs and spiritual healing as alternatives to conventional medication because of cost, religious beliefs and cultural perceptions.
She thinks if she had been permanently village bound she would die of the breast cancer without seeking proper treatment.
“I count myself as being lucky to have relatives here in Harare who took me for treatment when I visited them and was complaining of pain in my left breast. I actually thought it was nothing important and if I had remained in the village I would have ignored it until it was too late,” Mercy explains why she is not railing against her fate.
Mercy is a statistic in the increasing number of people being diagnosed with cancer as non-communicable diseases have become Zimbabwe’s biggest killer.
According to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry 2013 Annual Report, the combined cancers are the biggest culprit.
From 4 015 registered cases of cancer in 2005, figures have shot up to 6 548 in 2013. For breast cancer registered cases went up from 246 to 487 in the same period. Breast cancer mostly affects women with a very small percentage of men being diagnosed.
Of the 2 062 recorded deaths breast cancer was responsible for seven percent of the fatalities. Another women’s cancer — cervical cancer — was the highest killer accounting for 13 percent death. Prostate cancer, which attacks men, was responsible for nine percent of the deaths.
Last week during a breast cancer awareness campaign Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) information officer, Ms Priscilla Mangwiro said that most people battle with myths and misconceptions about cancer leading to late diagnosis.
She said about 81 percent of cancer patients reported to health facilities when it is too late for treatment.
Currently CAZ is carrying out free screening as part of their commemorations of the World Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is observed in October across the world.
The free screening will last throughout the month.
Ms Priscilla Mangwiro last week said: “Response has been overwhelming. Both men and women are keen to acquire knowledge concerning cancer.”
She said cancer screening is carried out through ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, mammography and clinical breast examination.
In the absence of such facilities women’s best chance of detecting breast cancer early is through self-breast examination.
But for Mercy and other low income and low education level women like her, that may not be an option either.
“I did not know anything about breast examination until I was diagnosed. When I go back to the village I will make sure that I share with the other women as I am sure they also do not know,” said Mercy.
The World Health Organisations says that awareness programmes are needed in low income countries to counter the increasing instances of breast cancer and subsequent deaths:
“Currently there is not sufficient knowledge on the causes of breast cancer, therefore, early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control.
“When breast cancer is detected early, and if adequate diagnosis and treatment are available, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured. If detected late, however, curative treatment is often no longer an option.
“The majority of deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, where most women with breast cancer are diagnosed in late stages due mainly to lack of awareness on early detection and barriers to health services”
Ms Mangwiro said that 12,9 percent of examined women have suffer from breast cancer.
Mercy gives thanksgiving that beyond being diagnosed she will be receiving treatment.
The most common forms of breast cancer treatments which “Mercy” can under through are surgery, chemotherapy, homontherapy and radiology” said head of radiotherapy and oncology Dr Ntokozo Ndlovu.
“What determines the treatment depends on the stage of the cancer which range from. Every stage is treated differently. With early breast cancer detection one can be able to save their breast if detected late one runs the risk of the cancer cells spreading throughout to the lungs, liver and even the brain,” explained Dr Ndlovu.
Dr Ndlovu said soon after detection of the cancer scans and blood tests are done to determine the stage of the breast cancer and also determine the means of treatment which is often a combination of available options.
“Surgery involves removing lymph nodes under the arm and this is an operation. Chemotherapy involves mopping up anything that might have escaped the knife.
“Drugs are injected into the vain at certain intervals and kill the cancer cells it is not painful as it is done through a drip. There are side effects but usually well controlled. Radiotherapy involves the use of high energy rays which are able to kill cancer cells luckily the specialised equipment is readily available in Zimbabwe. Homontherapy, these are pills taken over years. This is a defence mechanism that guards against the cancer cells,” said Dr Ndlovu.
Miss Mangwiro said among the challenges faced by those diagnosed is the availability of treatment. There are only two main centres for radiotherapy treatments which are Parirenyatwa and Mpilo hospitals for treatment. So for rural women with limited incomes early diagnosis may still not make much of a difference.
Mercy is praying that her relatives will be able to afford the treatment until she gets a clean bill of health. She says she does not have the luxury to care about cosmetic effects of the disease and will not spend her time mourning her breasts if they should be sacrificed to get her well again.
“I know that breast are an important thing to a woman and her partner. But my children come first. If the doctors must remove them so that I can live and look after my children, I will not cry for them.”
CAZ offers counselling and support services for cancer patients and their families to help them deal with the trauma of the disease. There are special bras with prosthetic breasts available for women who need them.
Online Reporter