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Andile Tshuma, Health Matters
Many in society think that breast cancer is only for the fairer sex but it is not. Although at a much lower occurrence rate, men are also not immune from breast cancer hence the third week of October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness for men annually.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and statistics show that an estimated one in eight women will have breast cancer in their lifetime.

Marked in countries across the world every October, breast cancer awareness month helps increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease.

The more awareness there is about a disease or ailment, the more empowered people are and the more they are able to handle the disease.

Government must be commended for availing cancer screening mammogram machines at public hospitals. The service is offered free of charge. Last year, the breast cancer screening machine was commissioned at Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, giving a life saving service for free to people in the region and beyond.

Doctors say early detection is vital since tumours can be picked when they are still as small as four to eight millimetres, ensuring treatment success. It is however sad that in most cases, cancer is often detected very late when it is at an advanced stage.

Noone is immune to cancer. While special diets, exercise and general healthier habits can help reduce chances of developing cancerous tumours by up to 40 percent, it is important for everyone to get screened once in a while.

While October is dedicated solely to breast cancer, other forms of cancer deserve attention as well. Many people, even those with resources to access chemotherapy and radiotherapy have succumbed to cancer over the years. One wonders what happens to the not so prominent members of society without recourse to resources.

With so much attention and resources having been channelled towards the fight against HIV and Aids, a development that saw Zimbabwe emerge as one of the success stories in Africa with an HIV prevalence rate of 13,9 percent, it however seems not so much has been done about the silent killer, cancer.

Recent statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care indicate that 7 000 new cancer cases are reported annually and 60 percent of them, according to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry, are HIV related. Of these, only some 1 300 to 2 000 are 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 indicates that cancer patients in Harare are not likely to survive five years after diagnosis at present levels of care, which is a greater call for action.

The cancer fight needs lifestyle intervention since about 40 percent of some cancers can be prevented by adopting healthy life styles such as healthy diets (increased intake of fruits and vegetables), avoiding tobacco use (smoking, chewing and snuff) and reducing or avoiding alcohol consumption.

Breast cancer is defined as a malignant tumour found in the cells of the breast that originate in the lining of the milk glands or ducts of the breast (ductal epithelium). It is advised to have the breasts checked from time to time, as early detection can save lives.

The three standard methods for breast cancer screening are – A Mammogram (X-ray of the breast), Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) and Breast Self-Examination (BSE). If you happen to notice any of the symptoms of breast cancer, do not take them lightly, whether you are male or female. It is better to panic and seek medical attention and be told it was just a false alarm than to be brave and take it lightly only to seek assistance when it’s too late. Better safe than sorry.

I wish men and women would appreciate this and develop a habit of visiting the doctor at least once every year for a full body check-up that includes a breast cancer check.

That one not so important trip to the doctor could be a deciding factor between life and death. We are all often overwhelmed with responsibilities sometimes that we brave illnesses for the sake of time and convenience but this is very dangerous as we may seek help when we cannot be helped much.

According to statistics, there are about 1,38 million new cases and 458 000 deaths from breast cancer each year worldwide. Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women worldwide, both in the developed and developing countries.

In developing countries the incidence has been rising steadily in the last few years due to increase in life expectancy, increased urbanisation and adoption of western lifestyles. 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, a life can be saved. Medical researchers say if detected late, however, curative treatment is often no longer an option. In such cases, palliative care to relieve the suffering of patients and their families is needed.

The majority of the breast cancer deaths (269 000) occur in developing 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.

We should all talk about breast cancer as much as possible, at work, at church gatherings, at socials and everywhere else people meet. The victory is in our hands and is in empowering each other and encouraging each other to get screened for early detection. The same way we test for HIV or blood sugar must be the same way we check for breast cancer as we may feel healthy for a very long time yet cancer may be eating away our healthy tissues.

The gist of the matter is that the causes of breast cancer are still under research so the only way to save your life is to go for check-ups constantly to watch out for any signs of breast cancer.

This is because the earlier it is detected, the earlier you can start treatment. However, it is critically important to visit the doctor as soon as you suspect it at whatever stage so that you can receive urgent medical attention.

We can do something to fight breast cancer by raising awareness to alert women of these symptoms to save lives and stop escalating the statistics of breast cancer deaths.

Breast Cancer Awareness month is marked in countries across the world every October to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care for the disease.

This annual commemoration comes against a background of a series of UN-based commemorations for pandemics such as epilepsy, tuberculosis, HIV and Aids, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Without trivialising any of the pandemics that are commemorated throughout the year, breast cancer awareness has suddenly become a cause for concern among countries after it emerged that the disease is now killing over half a million women across the globe every year.