Let’s raise awareness about Breast Cancer this Month.

by Enock Bett · Published October 14, 2019 · Updated October 14, 2019

October is the month of Breast Cancer Awareness. The world is joining hands to help increase awareness of the deadly disease that forms in the cells of the breasts of both men and women but is most common in women. This is the month the Ministry of Healthy together with all the stakeholders should put more effort to make this campaign successful.

The WHO research found out that 627,000 women died from breast cancer in the year 2018, roughly about 15% of all cancer deaths among women globally. In Kenya, cancer is the third leading cause of death that is according to the Ministry of Health. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) GLOBOCAN report for 2018 estimated 47,887 new cases of cancer annually with mortality of 32,987. This represents close to 45% as compared to the previous years. This means that much has to be done to curb this very worrying increase.

Yesterday, October 13, for example, was #NoBraDay, the day is set aside globally to encourage women to forego brassiere to help raise awareness about the disease. But this has not been the case in recent times, especially in Kenya, as many of the social media users use the opportunity to promote their own sensual messages.

https://twitter.com/MrOdanz/status/1183641786922745856

This was supposed to be an important day especially for the Ministry of Health and National Cancer Institute Board to push for the implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy.

Early detection of the disease improves the possibility of treating the patient by providing the earliest care in its first stages. It is therefore very important to encourage women to go for regular cancer screenings.

The following are the symptoms associated with the disease:

Lump in the breast
Asymmetry
Skin retraction
Nipple retraction
Blood-stained nipple discharge
Eczematous changes in areola

Here is how you can do your self-examination:

Lie on your back with a pillow under your right shoulder and feel the right breast with the three middle fingers of the left hand. You will need to do the same procedure for your left breast. Press in a circular motion, lightly and steady, without taking your hand off your skin. Feel your breast by moving your fingers up and down to look for any abnormal changes in the breast, above and below the collar bone, and in the armpit area.

I encourage everyone to take a step and go for regular screening to help in early detection. To all those battling with this very dangerous disease, we honor you and wish you success as you beat cancer. I urge you to share your stories especially to the young, to help them act early.