“I Have a Challenge for You as a Citizen to Contribute to Fighting Breast Cancer”
“I Have a Challenge for You as a Citizen to Contribute to Fighting Breast Cancer”, -Dr. Fethia Keder, Director, Integrated Clinical Services, USAID MULU Key Population Activity.
Breast cancer is the commonest cancer affecting women; In 2020 perse, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 685,000 deaths globally (WHO, 2022). As breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer, knowing its scope, risk factors, signs, and symptoms are worthwhile to prevent or treat as early as possible. Unfortunately, the magnitude of mortality caused by breast cancer is much higher in low- and middle-income countries due to barriers to diagnosis and treatment. This has resulted in women in these countries being less likely to survive the disease. As October is the month of breast cancer awareness, let me add a few more things about its prevention: “prevention is better than cure.”
Women over 40 years old and having a family history of breast cancer are risk factors that we hardly change. However, there are some things that we can do to lower our risks for breast cancer. These include prolonged breastfeeding; regular physical activity, weight control; avoiding harmful use of alcohol, exposure to tobacco, prolonged use of hormones, and excessive radiation exposure.
Knowing breast cancer’s general symptoms also helps to identify the symptoms and seek medical care. General breast cancer symptoms are breast lump, alteration in size, shape, or appearance of a breast; dimpling, redness, pitting, or other alteration in the skin. In addition, change in nipple appearance or alteration in the skin surrounding the nipple (areola) and/or abnormal nipple discharge. Please take a minute to see the self-examination video to pick the above symptoms using this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi2QyEZ0WMY
Knowing the situation, public health interventions must be strengthened to address breast cancer morbidity and mortality. This can start with educating your family members, such as your mother, wife, sisters, daughters, friends, and neighbors. I challenge you all to take time and use the opportunity to share this message with your peer and your circle to help prevent the impact of breast cancer. Together we can make a difference.
