OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

October is the official breast cancer awareness month all over the world, this campaign is aimed at increasing awareness of the disease. The ultimate goal is to get as many people involved and in turn raising awareness and funds to hep support life saving research and life changing support. It is the most common type of cancer in women and second most common cancer overall.

If you are not had the disease at this point you definitely know someone who has had it, statistics show that 1 in 7 women will be diagnosed with the disease in their life time, mammograms remain the best way to detect breast cancer early at this stage the disease is easier to treat. It is therefore important to get regular check ups so that you stand a high chance of fighting the disease. The month of October serves as a remainder for women to get screened and by doing so this will lead to more positive results in the crucial fight against the disease.

There is no way to prevent breast cancer but they are some ways that can lower the risk for the disease, these are:

• Staying Active
• Breastfeeding
• healthy eating
• maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting the use of alcohol

These various awareness campaigns have done a great job of making sure women stay informed about the disease but in Africa it is still an issue when it comes to screening, most women have become more aware of the disease but the numbers in which people actually get screened for the disease is still not impressive. In Zambia there has been an aggressive campaign over the years for cervical cancer due to the rise in the number of women who were affected and most women have responded well to the fight against cervical cancer by screening regularly, we hope to see this level of commitment to breast cancer as as well.

SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER

• Any change in the size or shape of the breast
• Nipple discharge (other than breast milk)
• Redness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• Localized, persistent breast pain
• Swelling or thickening of all or part of the breast
• Dimpling or skin irritation of breast skin
• Lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)

If you are having any of these symptoms please get screened as soon as possible, remember early screening gives you a better chance at survival and if you have not yet been screened regardless on whether you have the symptoms or not utilize this month of October and get screened.