Be vigilant, go for checks

THE struggle is real with breast cancer. It has taken a drastic shift in pattern and has become the second common cancer in Papua New Guinea.
Over time, the pattern has turned into a marathon – a race against time, cancer stage, acceptance, age and now proper treatment.
You cannot control your race. You have no say over your gene pool, and you definitely couldn’t keep your mother from taking certain drugs when she was pregnant with you.
But when you consider the risk factors for breast cancer – and there are many, sadly – there is a key element over which you do have agency, and that is early detection.
Currently 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, there is a good chance it can be cured. If detected late, however, curative treatment is often no longer an option.
Early detection can only come about through awareness and October is marked as the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in countries across the world.
An honorary surgeon at Port Moresby General Hospital, Dr Arnold Waine, in his report on breast cancer in PNG, says his team sees on average about 40 new patients every Monday morning during their clinical checks.
A quarter of these patients will usually present a breast problem – usually a lump, an ulcer or they come with macerated, large breasts.
Data he recorded over a five-year period indicates that 60 per cent of these patients have cancer. This means that out of every 10 patients with a breast problem, six of them will have cancers while the other four will have some other infection or disease.
But even more alarming is the younger, fertile, age-group of women presenting with breast cancer. Many are urban dwelling, working-class between the ages of 25 and 35.
Events held this month is to help increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease.
The world is tinted pink in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness: pink mugs, pink ribbons on football helmets, pink gym socks, shirts and even pink decorations.
The pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Pink ribbons, and the colour pink in general, identify the wearer or promoter with the breast cancer brand and express moral support for women with breast cancer.
The goal of the colour barrage is straightforward – to remind people that awareness is one of the most potent tools in their arsenal when it comes to combating the second most common cancer.
While breast cancer rates are higher among women in more developed regions, rates are increasing in nearly every region globally.
In order to improve breast cancer outcomes and survival, early detection is critical.
There are two early detection strategies for breast cancer: early diagnosis and screening.
Women – please have your breasts examined by an expert health practitioner, your nurse or doctor. Your doctor should be able to refer you early if there is any suspicion or doubt of cancer. Every individual person must be vigilant with what goes on in their body.
Let’s make it all our individual right and fight to have a healthy life so we can build not just ourselves, but our families, our communities and this wonderful country we call home – Papua New Guinea.