October is designated Breast Cancer month. During this month local and international charities offer support to those affected by breast cancer, organise to promote awareness of the disease and do fundraising for research into the cause, how the disease can be prevented, diagnosed, treated and cure. Breast cancer affects both men and women, but the latter more predisposed.
Breast cancer is said to be the leading cause of cancer death among women in the world. Breastcancer.org notes the established risks for the disease are:- being a woman, age, family history, genetics, history of cancer, personal history of breast cancer, radiation to chest or face before age 30, certain breast changes, overweight, race/ethnicity, smoking, lack of exercise, dense breast, menstrual history, using hormone replacement theory, breastfeeding history, and pregnancy history. Understanding the risks is empowering because with knowledge one can make better decisions, including lifestyle changes.
Those who have survived this cancer or know someone who had or is fighting the disease would admit: 1) it is a news no one wishes to have and; 2) living in fear of not being able to get the proper care and surviving the disease. Commendably, survivors and supporters of those afflicted have found innovative ways to network, provide emotional support, raise financing, and bring awareness to the disease, positively impacting survival and finding a cure.
Where organisations, such as the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, are providing funding to fight back against the disease such as mental health, is significant. Access to clinical mental support is equally vital to one’s psychosocial and emotional wellbeing in battling the disease.
One survivor, Ms. Roxanne Singh, whose story was carried in this newspaper on October 11th said: “Without support you can never make it through this battle. I had an outpouring of support, a lot of prayers from family and friends, especially from my four daughters who were my tower of strength, the ones who kept pushing me forward when I wanted to give up and my sisters.”
Though the annual walk for the cure is cancelled this year because of COVID-19 it is encouraging organisers will find another way to ‘walk’ by utilising social media at a date to be announced. The walk offers hope to many, and embolden others to share their experiences, thereby helping others. From having to deal with being diagnosed, going through the various treatments, finding money to pay hospitalisation and medical bills, not earning from being away from work; the trials are endless.
Very often people just want a shoulder to lean on, a listening ear, the opportunity to share their experiences and be directed to the right source for help. People need assurances that while the disease may likely see some transformation to their lives they are not deformed from the experiences and are still loved. For instance, chemotherapy and radiotherapy have resulted in loss of hair, often seen as a woman’s pride or crown of glory. Some hair never grows back as others experience bald patches. The transformation, though of varying degrees, can be life altering, an emotional trauma.
Survivors often live in fear the disease may return. Thanks to science and the determination of scientists in pursuing a cure, treatment today is better than in the past. If the disease is caught early, with proper care persons can survive or live longer. Treatment has advanced to the stage where those suffering from metastasize cancer could have the spread slow and live longer.
In all of this it is important to not lose sight that critical to fighting the disease is monthly self-examination, regular mammogram, and early detection. The Village Voice urges all women not to take this aspect of their health for granted. Given a woman’s tendency to defer her welfare to take care of others, it is important to remember in order to attend to others one’s well-being has to be first attended to.
