Staff of the Heidelberg Hospital X-ray unit held a breast cancer awareness event on October 19.
The event commemorated breast cancer awareness and showcased ways to do self-examination.
During the event, two breast cancer survivors, Cathy Groenewald and Joy Msomi, jointly lit a candle to honour those who have lost the fight against cancer.
Two of the hospital’s mammographers, Ntebo Maphela and Sphosethu Mngomezulu addressed staff members and guests.
The mammogram educated the guests and staff on ways to evade the greater stages of breast cancer and ways one can minimise the chances of getting breast cancer.
“People can encounter breast cancer as early as 18 years old,” said Maphela.
“Getting screened regularly, knowing your family history, sharing it with your doctor and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be applied as cancer prevention measures.
“Smoking and using tobacco products, drinking copious amounts of alcohol and being physically inactive can put you at risk of getting breast cancer,” she said.
Attendees were allowed to practice self-examination, a prerequisite for a mammogram.
