Overcoming the barriers for early breast cancer detection together

Personal care brand Avon Justine kicked off this Breast Cancer Awareness Month by shining a light on the importance of early detection.

A number of medical experts and oncologists joined a panel discussion on 1 October to highlight the impacts and challenges that breast cancer patients face.

The discussion was facilitated by Dr Molefi Molefi, chairperson of non-profit care advisory and support group Journeysys.

According to the National Cancer Registry, apart from non-melanoma, breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer death among women in South Africa – the lifetime risk sits at one in 25 women.

“The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we are delighted that the fight against breast cancer will once again be in the news cycle,” said Avon Justine executive marketing director Momin Hukamdad.

He added that while the current dialogue about breast cancer is important to help raise awareness about the fight against this disease, society must continue the conversation well beyond the webinar and beyond October.

“It is equally critical that we sustain [the] talk-ability about breast cancer for all 365 days in a year as this chronic disease is not seasonal.”

Among the dignitaries who joined Hukamda were breast cancer survivor and Minister of Basic Education Angie Moteshekga, breast disease specialist Professor Carol Benn and oncologist Dr Sithembile Ngidi, to name a few.

Benn emphasised that early detection remains one of the most important aspects of the fight against breast cancer. She continued to encourage women to learn how to do self-breast examinations.

“Self-breast examination is the start of prevention, early detection of breast cancer saves lives,” Benn explained.

Molefi added that many experts have found a number of barriers to early breast cancer detection, many of which are not only about poverty and socio-cultural issues.

“In fact, many health workers have even questioned the role of screening mammography in reducing mortality from breast cancer, raising concerns about whether the possible harm of overdiagnosis and overtreatment may not end up outweighing anticipated benefits,” he added.

Molefi believes that everyone should contribute towards increasing research on overcoming access barriers and underlying factors that derail the quality of care as a collective.

“Such research would become absolutely vital if we were to realise appropriately crafted public health policies that are better suited to strengthen the health system’s ability to deal with this deadly disease,” he said.

Related articles:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/77391/united-against-breast-cancer

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/133259/breast-cancer-is-also-a-mans-disease/