Temba Dube
WE are in a new month and it is important to note that October is the month of raising awareness around breast cancer.
The month-long movement, known as Pinktober has attracted the attention of women and men across Zimbabwe and the world as they highlight the work around awareness, screening, treatment and care of breast cancer.
Furthermore, pink is the selected colour that symbolises work around breast cancer with a pink ribbon pinned on one’s breast area showing that they are breast cancer aware.
In Zimbabwe cancer services are offered at all levels of the healthcare system with care concentrated at tertiary and quaternary levels. Several gaps however exist in access, availability, affordability and quality of services that need to be addressed.
Prevention offers the most cost-effective strategy for control of cancer. Integration of screening and early detection in other existing health programs will give optimal public health benefits with minimal cost implication and long-term cancer control benefits.
However, in Zimbabwe, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after cervical cancer (ZNCR, 2022).
Data from the cancer registry report also shows a consistent increase in the number of cases diagnosed.
Prevention is the most cost-effective intervention. Thirty to forty percent of cancers are preventable by avoiding known risk factors.
The main factors contributing to the increasing incidence of cancer in Zimbabwe include:
·Tobacco use
·Alcohol use
·Unhealthy diets
·Physical inactivity
·Environmental factors
Key strategies to reduce incidence of cancer include
·Community education and awareness campaigns
·Integration of cancer prevention into school curricula or occupational health programs
·Promotion of healthy diets through local food initiatives
·Physical activity programs
·Stronger tobacco control policies
·Alcohol use reduction initiatives
·Vaccination drives for Human Papilloma Virus
·Regular screening programs for high-risk populations
Environmental health initiatives can help to improve living conditions such as safer mining practices, while collaboration with traditional and faith-based healers will enhance community
engagement in cancer awareness.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care notes that advocacy for supportive strategic policies and investment in research will ensure a comprehensive framework for cancer prevention, ultimately
reducing the burden of cancer and improving public health outcomes in Zimbabwe.
Cancer treatment is very expensive when people come late to the hospital.
Medical experts note that the whole purpose of screening is to catch the disease before it is too late, cancer requires early diagnosis and early treatment then one can minimise the costs of
treatment.
When one comes late usually that patient will be very sick and they require extensive surgery, hospital stay and recovery which is costly so the whole purpose of early screening is to detect the
disease early and save money in treatment.
You are what you eat.
Many of the healthy eating habits that may reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and improve survival also help overall health. The most important lifestyle recommendation after a breast
cancer diagnosis is to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight by making gradual changes to the way you eat and by becoming more physically active.
Health experts recommend that people ‘create a rainbow in their plate’ by eating plenty of different coloured vegetables and fruit every day.
The deeper the colour, the more antioxidants and phytonutrients (like flavonoids, phenolics, lutein, carotenoids) the fruit or vegetable contains.
Eat foods like red cabbage, beetroot, dark green leaves like spinach, rape and kovo, carrots, butternut and pumpkin, mangoes, red/purple plums, kiwi fruit, orange peaches, green melon,
pomegranates, oranges, nec-tarines, berries.
Make fresh juices from these fruits and vegetables too. Antioxidants protect your cells from free radicals that can and damage cells cause cancer.
While eating health is recommended, it is essential to choose sensible portion sizes. You might already be eating the right foods, but it could be that you are eating too much.
Occasionally measure the amount of food you serve yourself and pay special attention to higher calorie foods such as high fat meats, fried foods, desserts and added fats. Remember to wear pink,
to raise awareness this October. #Pinktober #BreastCancer
—@NyembeziMu
