POLOKWANE – Breast cancer can also occur in men and therefore, it is not just the women who need to be aware. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among South African Woman.
According to Cansa, the lifetime risk for breast cancer in woman is one in 29. This means that one in every 29 women will get breast cancer.
Woman are encouraged to do monthly breast self-examinations and go for regular screening or clinical breast examinations.
Cansa have mobile clinics that do screening in communities as well.
What you need to know about Cervical Cancer
One in 36 women in South Africa get cervical cancer and it is the second most common cancer among South African woman. Cansa offers pap smears via their mobile health units and Cansa care centres.
A pap smear is a reliable screening test for the diagnosis of cervical cancer. It is a swab of the vaginal wall.
Human Papillomaviruses (HPV’s) is a group of more than 100 related viruses. About 40 HPV types are sexually transmitted and spread through genital contact.
High risk HPV is estimated to cause 70% of cervical and anal cancers, 50% of vaginal, vulvar and penile cancers and 20% of head and neck cancers.
A woman should go for regular pap smears at least every two or three years.
