October every year is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness month globally.
In line with this, the Imo State Ministry of Health in collaboration with Walk With Us Cancer Foundation (WAWUC), recently commemorated the 2021 Breast Cancer Awareness with the theme”Awareness is Power”.
Her Excellency, Barr. Mrs Chioma Uzodinma, at the occasion urged Imo women to always carry out a self breast examination and present themselves to the doctor for diagnosis as soon as a lump is noticed on the breast.
Barr. Uzodinma who was represented by the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Vulnerable Groups, Mrs Nkechi Ugwu, stated that early dictation, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer saves life.
The First Lady commended the organizers of the programme and charged everyone to be an advocate of breast cancer in the state.
In his opening remarks, the Hon. Commissioner for health, Dr Barthy Okorochukwu, appreciated the First Lady for her support to the success of the programme.
Dr. Okorochukwu disclosed that breast cancer does not cause immediate death if dictated early and that one hundred percent cure can be achieved.
According to him ” breast cancer is not a death sentence, it does not occur to women alone, men do have it but the incidence in men is low”.
The health Boss enjoined everyone especially husbands to assist their wives on regular check of the breast and encourage them to see a doctor once a lump is noticed.
He assured a breast cancer survivor who testified about her cure of the state government’s support to continue with her treatment.
In a scientific lecture, Dr. Okechukwu Duru, defined breast cancer as a disease confined to the breast with or without regional lymph node involvement and the absence of distant metastatic disease.
Dr. Duru informed that breast cancer is the commonest cancer world wide with 2.26 million cases recorded in 2020.
He stated that it is common among women both in developed and developing countries, a major cause for public health concern and fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in the world.
According to him, ” one third of cancer cases can be prevented by life style modification such as, regular exercises, appropriate weight, screening, early diagnosis, avoiding heavy alcohol intake and smoking.
He noted that Breast Self Examination (BSE), annual clinical breast examination, mammography and breast ultrasound for women who are above forty years old are the options for resource poor nations like Nigeria.
Dr. Duru therefore appealed to the state government to give more attention to health, make the health insurance scheme functional in the state and the establishment of a radiotherapy center as there is non in the state.
He advised individuals to have a good health seeking behavior and to see a doctor as soon as any abnormality is noticed on their bodies.
On the surgical treatment of breast cancer, Dr. Damian Oparaocha, stated that breast cancer treatment requires a multidisciplinary team consisting of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, reconstructive surgeons and supportive care personnels.
Dr. Oparaocha, pointed out that breast cancer when diagnosed at an advanced stage is difficult to manage adding that it does not have a vaccine yet and the treatment is relatively expensive.
He stressed that early detection by available screening methods followed by appropriate oncological therapy will help to reduce breast cancer mortality rates.
Highlights of the celebration was a walk for life and display of the pink code for breast cancer awareness, a relay race, award presentations to her Excellency, Barr. Chioma Uzodinma for her support, the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr Barthy Okorochukwu, for his commitment to duty and other partners.
*Treasure Ihechi- Nwamah is PRO, Imo State Ministry of Health