Breast Awareness: Top 2 Reasons Why You Should be Breast Aware

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Nigerian women and it carries the highest death rate from all cancers in Nigeria. It is, therefore, an understatement, to say every Nigerian woman needs to become more engaged and understand what it is to be breast cancer aware. There are many reasons to be breast aware, the most important of which is early detection.

It is important to be aware of breast cancer not only during the awareness month of October, but throughout the year. Realizing, that all women with or without symptoms need to become consistently proactive about their breast health, by using tools which facilitate the early detection of cancer. These tools are recommended by the American Cancer Society and endorsed by other reputable international organizations. For example, starting at age 40, all women with no symptoms of breast cancer should have a yearly clinical breast exam performed by a trained medical professional and a mammogram (a special x-ray of the breast) every year. For women who are aged 20-39 with no symptoms, it is recommended that they perform a monthly self-breast examination, clinical breast exam every three years, by a trained medical professional.

A woman of any age with breast symptoms such as feeling a lump, bloody nipple discharge etc., should seek medical attention from a qualified health care professional promptly.

A lady once asked me, why there was so much hype about early detection of breast cancer, being breast aware and the need for yearly mammograms and monthly breast examinations. “Is it really that serious?” she queried. My response was, “Yes it really is.” And gave her two major reasons why:

1. It just might save your life: The survival rates for breast cancer increases the earlier cancer is detected in 25 Nigerian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Unfortunately, there is currently no test available to tell us who the 1 in 25 women is. Therefore, we have to screen all eligible women to detect cancer as early as possible. However, due to lack of awareness, cultural factors/stigmas, and poor health infrastructure, Nigerian women often present late for medical attention when the options for treatment are either limited or too late. It is because of early detection through population-based screening mammography and better treatment options, that women in countries like the United States have a greater than 90 % chance of survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer. In Nigeria, the available data shows that survival rate is less than 30 %, and this number could be less. The bottom line: Early detection saves lives.

2. Financial benefit: In addition to the possible loss of life that may occur with a late diagnosis, there are also monetary implications associated with late detection of breast cancer. Treating early-stage cancer is cheaper than treating advanced cancer.  As most people in Nigeria don’t have adequate health insurance coverage, it is not unheard of that in addition to having to borrow money from family, friends and financial institutions, people have also had to sell their homes and other belongings. This now creates a situation where a woman is not only fighting to save her own life but is also watching her family become destabilized and vulnerable.

Most respondents in a representative survey of women in Lagos, stratified according to age and other demographic data, indicated that they were very concerned about their health. Many of them perceived breast cancer to be a deadly disease because of the fact that they either personally or through other acquaintances knew someone who had died of breast cancer. Yet, most of them did not regularly and consistently use the tools of early detection- monthly breast exams, regular clinical examination or annual screening mammography.

I encourage you today to start becoming more proactive about your breast health. We have been endowed by Providence to live in the information age, where technology has made it possible for us to learn about, treat and prevent diseases like never before in human history. There is, therefore, no good reason, to gamble with your life and hope for the best.

Make early detection of breast cancer a part of your health ritual. By getting screened today, you’ll be empowered with knowledge, and have peace of mind knowing that when it comes to breast cancer you are not only aware but also engaged.