Cancer of the breast is the biggest cancer killer of Nigerian women. Woman Editor, TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE, writes that one can save a life if they alert their female relations and friends on this Breast Cancer Awareness month on breast cancer screening.
The female anatomy is never complete without the breasts.
In fact, the breasts define femininity; they help nourish children, and even men can attest to its importance. Despite their significance, most women seem not to have a relationship with their breasts, so much that even when there are noticeable changes, they do not know.
That is why many miss the early signs of breast cancer.
The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumour that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually, breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules (the milk-producing glands) or the ducts (passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple). Less commonly, breast cancer can begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast.
In Nigeria, “The incidence of breast cancer is one in 25, but because we don’t screen our population, it has actually become a death sentence,” said Dr. Femi Olaleye, Medical Director, Optimal Cancer Care Foundation.
In the United Kingdom (UK), breast cancer is the commonest cancer; about 50,000 women and 350 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. It is the second biggest cause of death from cancer in women.
Dr. Olaleye attests to this fact. “In other parts of the world, once you’re a woman, that one in 25 is picked up early, procedures are done to quickly stop that cancer from killing her.
“So, it doesn’t kill as much as it is killing here.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared breast cancer as the number one cancer scourge afflicting human beings.
WHO says, “One in eight women are at risk of having breast cancer in their lifetime – a diagnosis of breast cancer is made every other minute.
The good news is; more people are surviving breast cancer than ever before!
According to Dr. Moni Adaniji of Naveen Health Care, over 80 per cent of women with breast cancer are still alive five years after diagnosis. And with the advance rate in research, new treatments, earlier diagnosis, breast screening and breast cancer awareness, more women are surviving longer.
Studies have shown that early detection and treatment of any disease (including breast cancer) is the key to better chances at survival.
The question now is: how do we detect breast cancer? According to Dr. Adaniji, the answer is to simply develop a relationship with your breasts.
“Breast self-examination is a simple, effective way to detect breast lumps early. It is advocated that women examine their breasts at least once a month. Breast examination can be done while we are in the shower (you are undressed anyway; just take a few minutes to check your breasts). When you examine your breasts regularly, you know what your normal breasts feel like, so when there is an abnormality, it’s pretty quick to detect,” Adaniji said.
Another way is to have a mammogram done, especially if you are over 40 years old. Mammograms use low intensity x-rays to “see inside the breasts” and detect abnormalities. Having a mammogram done once a year can help in earlier diagnosis and treatment. The best part; it doesn’t take long, it is painless and there is minimal risk of adverse effects of radiation.
However, Adaniji admits that getting a mammogram in Nigeria is not cheap.
Investigations revealed that averagely, for breast scan, mammogram, biopsy and other tests, an individual must spend an average of N67,000.
And even when a lump is done, treatment is also expensive.
At the treatment level, an average surgery costs N50,000 to N150,000, while chemotherapy is within the range of N90,000 and N500,000. The minimum cost of radiotherapy in Nigeria is N100,000, while anti-oestrogen treatment is between N2,500 and 18,000 per month, for which the patient is supposed to be on for five years.
Targeted therapy in Nigeria cost as much as N5 million, putting more financial pains on cancer patients and their care-givers.
Dr. Adaniji, however, states that if you have found a lump, wishing or praying the lump away would not help, neither will denying or insisting “it is not your portion”. You need to seek help from qualified medical personnel as soon as possible.
In Nigeria, most people associate breast cancer with a death sentence, as the mortality rates are high.
This is due, most of the time, to late presentation. Catching breast cancer early helps improve survival rates exponentially. As a man, you can help save a life if you call your sisters, mothers, cousins, aunties, nieces and friends on this Breast Cancer Awareness month and ask them if they have been screened for Breast Cancer.
Experts say women can reduce their breast cancer risk by maintaining a healthy weight, reducing alcohol consumption and increasing the amount of physical activity they do.
However it is important to remember that it can’t prevent it completely.
Being female, increasing age and having a significant family history are the three main risk factors for developing breast cancer.
October is breast cancer awareness month; this is an opportunity to get that mammogram done.