EXPERTS CALL WOMEN TO TAKE REGULER CHECK UPS FOR BREAST CANCER TO AVOID LATE DETECTION

Women are trained on self-examination at the campaign. Photo by Sunday Amandi.

By Sunday Amandi

Arua city

Cancer that is detected at an early stage, when it isn’t too large and hasn’t spread is more likely to be treated successfully, and spotting cancer at an early stage save lives, and so women and girls are called upon to screen their breasts for breast cancer regularly to avoid cases of late detection of breast cancer.
 
This call was made at the breast cancer awareness campaign organized by Eric cancer initiative Uganda in Arua city.
 
Aisha Bagala, a coordinator with Eric cancer initiative says, identifying the disease at an early stage often leads to more effective and less aggressive treatments, and therefore appeals for regular checkups.
 
“With cancer, when you detect early, you can be cured, we check for the breast for those signs once in a month,” Aisha said.
 
Sister Sally Ocokoru, a retired mid-wife, who has survived breast cancer assures the members of the community for successful treatment of the disease if it’s diagnosed early.
 
“Am a survivor of breast cancer for twelve years now, and what has kept me alive is early detection because early detection saves life, when you got to the hospital early and its discovered that you have cancer, you will be attended to earlier,” Sally said.
 
However, Damalie Musasizi, the programs coordinator for Eric cancer initiative Uganda demands for support for those who are diagnosed with breast cancer to avoid stigma, as there is always hope after diagnosis, if it’s detected early.

According to American cancer society, when breast cancer is detected early, the five year relative survival rate is 99 percent.

Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams, and scheduling regular clinical breast examinations.