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The Herald
Feature reporter
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Breast Cancer Awareness Month helps increase care and support for awareness, early detection and treatment, as well as palliative care for the disease.
Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women worldwide, in both developed and developing countries.
To continue raising awareness of breast cancer, Zimpapers will host its annual Cancer Power Walk on November 7.
The Zimpapers Annual Cancer Power Walk, in association with Island Hospice, has been in existence since 2016.
It is a promotional platform aimed at raising awareness about the national and global concern that is cancer. It has also become a fundraising platform for palliative care and the work that Island Hospice does.
As a result of Covid-19 and the consequent lockdown restrictions for health reasons, which prohibit the gathering of large groups of people, the 2020 Power Walk will be a virtual event.
This year’s theme is ‘I am and I will’ with the event hashtag #ZimpapersCancerPowerWalk.
Cancer is clearly becoming a threat in society and initiatives like the ones mentioned above help bring information to people’s doorsteps.
In Zimbabwe, the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (Cancer Center) has worked for the past 50 years to raise awareness of cancer prevention, early detection and treatment in the country.
Below, the Zimbabwe Cancer Association explains what breast cancer is.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a disease of the cells that are the building blocks of the body’s organs and tissues. Normally, cells divide, grow and multiply in an orderly and controlled way according to the needs of the body to keep it healthy.
When cells age or become damaged, they die and are replaced by new cells. However, sometimes this orderly process goes wrong.
When this happens, cells do not die when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them. When these cells continue to multiply, they result in a mass of tissue or growth, also called a tumor. Breast cancer is a cancerous growth that occurs in the breasts. It is a cancer that begins in the breast tissue, most commonly in the inner lining of the milk ducts or in the lobes that supply milk to the ducts.
Risk factors for breast cancer
We do not know what causes breast cancer, although we do know that certain risk factors can increase the risk of developing it.
Studies have shown that some people are more likely to develop cancer than others. These are called risk groups. Behavior, environmental factors, or other things that predispose risk groups to cancer are called risk factors. Your risk increases if you:
◆ You are over 40 years old,
◆ You have a family history of breast cancer,
◆ Smoking and drinking alcohol, more than two drinks a day,
◆ Eat a diet rich in animal fats and low in fiber,
◆ You have no children or you had your first child after you turned 30,
◆ You started your menstrual periods before 12 years of age and experience menopause later than usual (after 55 years) are at higher risk,
◆ Excessive use of hormone replacement: always consult your doctor about the use of hormones,
◆ Exposed to radiation especially during adolescence
◆ You have previously had cancer in one breast,
◆ Constantly endure high levels of stress.
Signs and symptoms
It is important to watch out for common signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Common symptoms of breast cancer include a lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the armpit that persists during the menstrual cycle.
A lump or lump, which may appear as small as a pea, should also be a cause for concern, especially if it is detected during regular breast self-exam.
Women should watch for changes in the size, shape or contour of the breast, discharge of clear or blood-stained fluid from the nipple, changes in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple (dimples, puckers, scaly , or swollen), redness of the skin of the breast or nipple, a change in the shape or position of the nipple.
Other signs include the development of a hardened, marble-like area under the skin, an area that is distinctly different from any other area of the breast, tingling, itching, increased sensitivity, burning pain in the breast or nipples, also unexplained weight loss such as persistent fever or chills.
However, some of the signs and symptoms may be due to other conditions. Therefore, it is important to consult your doctor or healthcare professional if signs or symptoms occur.
Put on screen
Breast cancer screening refers to testing for breast cancer in otherwise healthy women in an attempt to achieve an earlier diagnosis.
The assumption is that early detection will improve results.
A number of screening tests have been employed, including: clinical breast exams and self-exams, mammography, genetic screening, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
In Zimbabwe, breast self-examination (BSE) is encouraged, as the woman herself discovers most of the lumps. Breast exams can find cancers early.
In older women, it saves lives, since if cancer is found, it is likely to be smaller. Therefore, it may be possible to remove the lump (using a lumpectomy) instead of removing the entire breast (a mastectomy).
Breast self-exam
The method involves having the woman look and feel each breast for any lumps, distortions, or swelling.
It makes one familiar with the usual look and feel of breasts. Knowing your breasts makes it easier to notice any changes.
A breast self-exam is done three to five days after your period, when your breasts are least likely to be tender and swollen. Women in menopause should choose a particular day of the month to perform a breast self-exam.
What to look for during a breast exam:
In the very bosom:
◆ Dimples or wrinkles on the surface of the skin
◆ Enlarged veins
◆ Lump or thickening that may be painless
◆ Unusual rash on the nipple or breast
◆ Persistent chest pain, although not common.
On the nipple:
◆ Drainage or blood from the nipple
◆ Rash on the nipple or around the nipple
◆ Lump or thickening that may be painless
◆ An inverted nipple (turned nipple)
◆ Change in nipple position
◆ Lump or thickening under the nipple
In the arm:
◆ Swelling of the upper arm,
◆ Swelling or lump in the armpit.
You should examine your breasts monthly starting at age 18. The best way to do this is standing up, looking in the mirror, standing in the shower, or lying in bed.
A form of breast self-exam:
Stand in front of the mirror, inspect both breasts for any unusual discharge, dimples, scales, or wrinkles on the skin.
Looking in the mirror, clasp your hands behind your head and press your head against your hands. This helps identify any changes in shape or size as the muscles contract.
Press your hips down with your hands and bend forward or to the mirror while pulling your shoulders and elbows forward. Pulling the muscles helps identify any abnormalities in the breasts.
While in the shower, with soapy hands, lift your arm and with four fingers of the right hand, gradually work from the outer edge of the breast in small circles towards the nipple. Circular motions will help identify lumps or abnormalities.
Prevent breast cancer
About a third of the most common cancers, including breast cancer, can be prevented with a healthy and varied diet, maintaining a healthy weight and regular physical activity.
It is recommended to eat a diet that contains whole foods that are grown naturally and are high in fiber.
It is also important to avoid refined foods and highly processed foods, as they are high in fat, sugar, and salt. Instead, focus on whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, poultry, and fish.
Also avoid being overweight or obese by exercising regularly at least five times a week for more than 30 minutes.
Alcohol intake should be reduced, avoiding smoking, sniffing or chewing tobacco at all costs. Also avoid exposure to chemicals like pesticides.
Managing stress effectively is another important aspect of preventing breast and other cancers. Breastfeeding is a protective factor; it is a common practice in Zimbabwe and should be encouraged. – Additional information, Zimbabwe Cancer Association
