Self-examination of your breast can help
OLIVEDALE- Women and men are reminded to do daily self-examinations of their breast to detect any lumps that might be cancerous.
October has been identified as Cancer Month by the Department of Health in South Africa.
Netcare Olivedale Hospital is intensifying breast cancer awareness by wrapping trees in its yard with a pink cloth.
“We encouraged the public to do daily self-examination of their breasts because breast cancer affect both women and men,” explains Deborah Sieff, patient liason officer at Olivedale.
On 30 September, Pretty in Pink, a foundation that supports people with cancer, visited this hospital to educate staff and the public about breast cancer. “Not only was their information valuable but people had the opportunity to purchase lovely items to support the foundation,” says Sieff.
According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), 1 in 35 women in South Africa is most likely to have breast cancer.
It is also the principle cause of death from cancer among women globally with some 327 000 deaths each year.
There are 1.5 million new cases every year, and about 4.4 million women are believed to be living with breast cancer.
An estimated 1.7 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 —a 26 per cent increase from current levels — mostly in the developing world.
Details: Cansa www.cansa.org.za
