IN October the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) focuses on breast cancer, particularly turning the spotlight on the needs of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC).
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Breast cancer is the leading cancer affecting women in South Africa.
The National Cancer Registry reveals that, one in 26 women are at risk of being diagnosed in their lifetime.
According to marketing and communication head at CANSA, Lucy Balona, both women and men may develop MBC, however, about 99 per cent of cases are female.
MBC may also be called advanced breast cancer or stage IV (stage 4) breast cancer.
It’s when the cancer has spread to other, and often distant, sites in the body such as the liver, lungs, bone, brain.
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“While MBC is treatable, there is no cure for this disease. The goal of treatment is to limit progression, symptom control and pain management. Access to mental health care has been identified as a need for MBC patients, as well as improvements in lifelong surveillance, tracking of patients and access to routine assessments including mammography, bone density scanning and gynaecological assessments,” said Balona.
Patty Duiker, cancer patient diagnosed with MBC shared, “It’s metastasised to my spine, ribs, body of the sternum, right side of the skull, shoulders and legs. It affects your life greatly. My spine is damaged, I’m a semi-invalid. I’m in constant pain. It’s a struggle just to stay alive. So when I have a good painless day, I’m amazed at myself. Then I praise myself for making it. For not being a quitter. All I need is for people to stop telling me to be strong, because strong is all I know.”
Gerda Strauss CANSA’s Head of Service Delivery said, “Patients with MBC have a tough journey ahead of them. There’s a misconception that those that have survived the disease fought harder than those that didn’t, this isn’t true. Comparison judgements hurt, especially those that are left behind. These women are struggling daily to cope with the trauma as well as the physical limitations that come with it. No matter what your cancer diagnosis, stage or treatment outcome, everyone who is going through the journey of a cancer diagnosis, is doing the best to survive another day and should be saluted.”
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Patients with MBC may feel isolated, depressed, anxious and misunderstood.
Challenges faced by these patients include dealing with an incurable illness and side effects of treatment, such as pain and sexual dysfunction.
“There is also stigma related to MBC with the notion that the MBC patient is somehow responsible for the diagnosis and or has not taken adequate care of themselves,” Balona added.
CANSA offers counselling and emotional support to cancer patients and families as well as medical equipment to assist with mobility difficulties such as wheelchairs and walkers or eggshell mattresses to help with lying down more comfortably https://www.cansa.org.za/cansa-care-centres-contact-details/.
Visit www.cansa.org.za or contact the nearest CANSA Care Centre, call CANSA toll-free 0800 22 66 22 or email: info@cansa.org.za.
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