adminMercy Ngwebvu
OCTOBER is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease.
While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same.
Breast cancer is the top cancer in women worldwide and is increasing particularly in developing countries where the majority of cases are diagnosed in late stages.
In low and middle income countries, the incidence has been rising steadily in the last years due to increase in life expectancy, increased urbanization and adoption of western lifestyles.
The low survival rates in less developed countries can be explained mainly by the lack of early detection programmes, resulting in a high proportion of women presenting late stage disease, as well as by the lack of adequate diagnosis and treatment facilities.
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.
While people lose hope when diagnosed with cancer, the good news is that when breast cancer is detected early and if adequate diagnosis and treatment are available, there is a good chance that it can be cured.
Early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances for successful treatment. There are two major components of early detection of cancer, which are; education to promote early diagnosis and screening.
Some early signs of cancer include lumps, sores that fail to heal, abnormal bleeding, persistent indigestion, and chronic hoarseness. Early diagnosis is particularly relevant for cancers of the breast, cervix, mouth, larynx, colon and rectum, and the skin.
The Manica Post caught up with a Dangamvura woman who had her breast removed and she shared part of her testimony and experience after being diagnosed with cancer.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, Martha (not her real name), said learning that she had cancer was a traumatising moment for her and her children.
“I will never forget the look of anguish on my children’s faces when I told them I had breast cancer. I had taken them out for lunch as a special treat, thinking it would cushion the blow. They wept uncontrollably. However, the hardest thing about having cancer was admitting it to myself. I don’t exercise, but I have a healthy diet. I don’t smoke or drink and I used to regularly check my breasts regularly for lumps. The news came at a bad time in my life. I had just come out of a long term relationship and I felt vulnerable. That is probably why I was in denial and kept the cancer a secret for nearly three months.
“I eventually told the children that I had a malignant tumour in my right breast, not more than 2cm wide. I then went to South Africa for a lumpectomy.
This is an operation which involves making an incision over the lump, peeling back the skin and cutting out the tumour and a little of the surrounding healthy tissue.
Afterwards, I had two months of radiotherapy to kill off any stray cancerous cells. Luckily, the cancer had not spread, but it took me a long time to come to terms with seeing the disfigured breast (half of it had been cut away). Last July I had reconstructive surgery. I have developed a more positive attitude towards life and I am closer to my children. Now I feel I have been given a second chance,” she said.
If detected late, curative treatment of cancer is often no longer an option. In such cases, palliative care to relief the suffering of patients and their families is needed.
The World Health Organisation promotes comprehensive breast cancer control programmes as part of control plans.
The recommended early detection strategies for low and middle income countries are awareness of early signs and symptoms and screening by clinical breast examination in demonstration areas.
So far the only breast cancer screening method that has proved to be effective is mammography screening. It is very costly and is feasible in countries with good health infrastructure that can afford long-term organized population-based screening programmes.
Low-cost screening approaches, such as clinical breast examination, could be implemented in limited resource settings.
The differences in breast cancer incidence between developed and developing countries can partly be explained by dietary effects combined with later first childbirth, lower parity, and shorter breastfeeding.
The increasing adoption of western lifestyle in low and middle income countries is an important determinant in the increase of breast cancer incidence in these countries.The primary risk factors for breast cancer are female sex and older age.
Other potential risk factors include genetics, lack of childbearing or lack of breastfeeding, higher levels of certain hormones and unhealthy dietary patterns, and obesity.
Recent studies have indicated that exposure to light pollution is a risk factor for the development of breast cancer.
Women may reduce their risk of breast cancer by maintaining a healthy weight, drinking less alcohol, being physically active and breastfeeding their children.
Strategies that encourage regular physical activity and reduce obesity could also have other benefits, such as reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Online Reporter