Let’s talk about the C-word in October

That dreaded C-word causes fear and often panic when patients hear “We have found that you have cancer.” It is a fear of the unknown, uncertainty and often is what you have heard from someone who knows someone who had cancer.

October is breast cancer awareness month, and Dr Smitha Abrahams, an oncologist based at Netcare Alberlito, spoke to us about cancers found specifically in women.

Cancer is a growth that starts multiplying out of control. Less than 5% is due to a genetic or familial cause.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in South African women and the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is one in 35.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women and according to statistics from CANSA one in 44 will develop cervical cancer.

Early detection and treatment can cure cancer so that is why screening and awareness is important.

Breast cancer

The signs and symptoms of breast cancer include: A painless lump in the breast, swelling in the breast or armpit area, change in size of breast, nipple changes and discharge, pain in the breast and in rare cases the skin looks red and pitted.

Screening and awareness include a monthly self-breast examination, clinical breast examination, and mammograms from age 40 and onwards. Self-breast examinations (SBE) should take place every month, starting at the age of 20.

Ideally women should do a SBE five to seven days after their monthly period and for menopausal women on the same date of each month.

Early screening can pick up small tumors which can be easily cured. Unfortunately many women do not practice this simple exercise out of fear or embarrassment, or they say they are too busy or they lack knowledge.

The treatment for breast cancer is either surgery, by removing the lump or entire breast, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or a combination of these.

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is a tumor that occurs in the lower part of the uterus.

The signs and symptoms are: abnormal bleeding or discharge, bleeding when you are not having your period, bleeding after menopause, bleeding or pain during intercourse, chronic back pain or weight loss.

Regular pap smears from the age of 21 can pick up any abnormalities in the cervix.

The treatment for cervical cancer is surgery, by removing the uterus and ovaries if it is still in the early stages, or chemo and radiation.

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