Promoting Breast Cancer Awareness

First, it was her left breast that was removed. Now the tumour has affected the other breast and doctors say in a matter of months it will be cut off as well. Mastectomy is the only hope of living a less painful life for Catherine Nzoba, a 32 year old woman.

Incidentally, Catherine’s case would have been different if she had gone to the hospital for treatment three years ago when she discovered a lump on her breast. But instead of seeking medical advice early, she kept the discovering to herself and consulted her pastor who assured her that there was no cause for alarm. For sickness was not her portion.

Today, Catherine lives in pains and agony but still hides her health condition from her friends and colleagues for fear of stigmatisation. She bears the nagging pain all alone and regrets that if she had known, she would have started treatment early.

Catherine’s case is one of the many cancer cases that would have been made less grievous if they sought early medical advice. Experts say early detection of cancer helps in its successful treatment.

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. World Health organisation (WHO), estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 if there is no intervention.

To create awareness about this deadly disease, different days and months are set aside by WHO for different types of cancer. On February 4, every year, WHO supports International Union Against Cancer to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer.

In the same vein, October every year is chosen worldwide to promote breast cancer awarness campaign among women and men. Breast cancer awareness month is an annual international health campaign organised by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.

It is also a prime opportunity to remind women to examine their breasts for early detection.

The increasing global focus on breast cancer is because it is the second most common type diagnosed in women after skin cancer and the second cause of death in women after lung cancer. Records show that every year breast cancer kills more women in Nigeria than any other form of cancer.

Why are women afraid of being screened for breast cancer?  Programme Cordinator, Preventive Health Care Initiative Dr. Dorothy Okoh says “For a women the breast is a symbol of beauty and womanhood, the word breast cancer therefore is frightening and most women do not want to hear or talk about it”.

Breast cancer is also dreaded by women because it is a very expensive ailment to manage. Again, there is also a stigma attached to the disease. A preacher was alleged to have said that breast cancer and other forms of cancer were punishment from God for one’s evil deeds.

It is believed that not many women in Nigeria have adequate information about their health condition and this increases the number of death cases from the disease.

“Most of our women are ignorant about the disease, and therefore seek medical attention very late when nothing much can be done”, Dr. Okoh added.

She also informed that breast cancer today is no longer an automatic death sentence but the key to survival depends on early detection, adding that when breast cancer is detected early and promptly treated, survival rate is increased.

The haematologist advised that to detect breast cancer a women needs to be breast health aware and carry out the following screening test routinely: breast self-examination, clinical breast examination, breast ultrasonography and mamography.

Similarly, a medical practitioner, Dr. Ephraim Ogbaji, said death cases from breast cancer can be drastically reduced if systems of promoting and protecting women’s health in Nigeria are improved upon.

He regretted that while HIV/AIDS infection and other killer diseases get adequate publicity and attention, breast cancer receives little attention and resources.

He advocated support from  corporate organisations, especially by providing mammography centres in hospitals to make treatment less expensive for breast cancer patients.

As Nigeria joins other countries to mark this year’s cancer awareness month with the theme, “Cancer can be prevented”, Dr. Okoh’s PHI, a non-governmental Organisation in collaboration with the Rivers State Chapter of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) is carrying out awareness campaign on the disease.

Speaking to The Tide Dr. Okoh said the decision to involve young school children in the programme was taken as a way of teaching them about cancer and how they can prevent it.

She emphasised that if young people who are the future of the nation are aware of what they should do to prevent cancer and abide by it, cases of cancer will reduce drastically in nearest future.

She asked mothers to properly advice their children on health issues and also pay attention to the diet of their family and pointed out that unhealthy living is a major cause of cancer.

She called on the public, particularly women to be supportive of fellow women who are suffering from cancer.

“We should encourage each other, help each other, be your sister’s keeper, because they are going through a lot, emotionally and financially”.

The state Chairman of NAWOJ, Ms Enale Kodu, said NAWOJ was pushed to get involved in the cancer programme because a lot of women, especially rural women and youth are ignorant of cancer and how it can be prevented or treated.

She says “It is our duty as women journalists to sensitise and educate women on healthy lifestyle which will rid the society of killer diseases like cancer. We are to raise the consciousness of women in terms of health, habits, personal hygiene, diet, regular breast examination, importance of pap smear and all they should know about prevention, detection and treatment of cancer, for a healthy, happier society”.

Ms Kodu condemned the attitude of some women who hide under religion and deprive themselves of adequate medical attention when they are in poor health.

“A lot of women believe that by faith their illnesses can disappear. We should not allow our religious beliefs blind us from reality. God gave doctors wisdom on health issues, what other miracle do we need?,” she queried.

Calista Ezeaku