Breast Cancer Awareness Month is upon us, and this year’s theme is ‘Keeping Her in The Picture’, which is a call to everyone to look out for the well-being of the important women in their lives. According to the 2019 National Cancer Registry (NCR), breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of all races worldwide, with a lifetime risk of 1 in 27 women in South Africa and with 1.7 million women diagnosed each year.
There is growing concern that most women present with late-stage cancers, which make for a difficult prognosis.
“We encourage women to focus on their breast health by being aware of any changes or irregularities, get to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and go for regular breast screenings. It’s always good to practice self-care which includes making personal health a priority”, says Lorraine Govender, CANSA’s National Manager in Health Promotion.
What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?
A change in how the breast or nipple looks or feels- Nipple tenderness or a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area. A change in the skin texture or an enlargement of pores in the skin of the breast (some describe this as similar to an orange peel’s texture). A lump in the breast. It’s important to remember that all lumps should be investigated by a healthcare professional, but not all lumps are cancerous.
It is important to note that a milky discharge that is present when a woman is not breastfeeding should be checked by a doctor, although it is not linked with breast cancer. Let your doctor know about any nipple discharge, clear, bloody or milky. The most concerning discharges are bloody or clear.
Where to start if you think you may have breast cancer:
Self Breast Examinations- Not all breast lumps indicate cancer, but they should be investigated, especially if accompanied by other changes in breasts or the under arm area, such as lumps, texture changes, thickening, dimpling, changes in shape or size of nipples or breasts, tenderness, discharge, rash or swelling, or one breast suddenly being slightly larger than the other.
Clinical Breast Examinations- A Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) is a visual and manual examination of the entire breast, from the collarbone to the bra line, and from the armpit to the breast bone. It is advisable to have a CBE as part of your annual medical checkup.
Mammograms- A mammogram is a special x-ray used to detect lumps in the breast. They do not prevent breast cancer, but they can save lives by finding breast cancer as early as possible. Finding breast cancers early with mammography has also meant that many more women being treated for breast cancer are able to keep their breasts. When caught early, localised cancers can be removed without resorting to breast removal (mastectomy).
Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter, Zoleka Mandela is a recent public figure who lost her battle to breast cancer. She passed away at the age of 43. The breast cancer she had fought for years had been in remission, but she was later diagnosed with cancer in her liver and lungs, which had metastasized and ultimately led to her death. She passed away on the 25th September 2023. South Africans shall “keep her in the picture” as they remember her legacy through her fight against breast cancer.
Main picture: Velocity Urgent Care
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