annually. Only annual screening guarantees prevention of untimely
death. Today, more Nigerian women are aware of their breast health and
breast cancer; however, some damaging myths exist that misinform on
the benefits of early detection and seeking prompt care. In
commemoration of the World Cancer Day, Sebbeccly Cancer Care is
dispelling common myths around the disease by promoting breast
awareness, and helping people understand the benefits of early
detection and treatment.
It is a death sentence
Truth: Being diagnosed with breast cancer is not a death sentence.
With the scientific and social progress in breast cancer care, more
women are surviving breast cancer in Nigeria and worldwide. A lot of
Nigerian women after treatment are able to resume work and normal
activities, get pregnant, have children and live a happy life.
Mortality rate in Nigeria is high because of the late stage at
presentation, survivorship barriers (affordability, accessibility and
availability of cancer care) and the aggressive biology of breast
cancer. When breast cancer is detected early, the chance of surviving
the disease is high.
It is contagious
Truth: No way, breast cancer is not contagious; it doesn't spread
from one person to person. You can hold hands, hug, sit and talk
together with someone living with breast cancer.
No one in my family has breast cancer therefore I'm not at risk
Truth: Every woman has some risk of developing breast cancer. Majority
(70-80 percent) of women who have breast cancer do not have a known
family history or an identifiable risk factor. Even if no one in your
family has ever been diagnosed, that's no excuse to skip your yearly
mammogram. It's important all women over 40 years old be screened for
breast cancer. A few women have a family history where at least two
relatives such as a mother, aunt or male relative have been diagnosed
with breast cancer: such women have an increased risk of breast cancer
and they should visit their doctors to discuss risk reduction and
intervention.
There is nothing I can do about breast cancer control
Truth: There is a lot that you can do at an individual, community and
policy level to help women be breast aware and support access to
cancer care. As an individual, being informed,avoiding
tobacco,maintaining ahealthy body weight, eating right, getting enough
exercise, and gettingappropriatecancer screening testscan all make a
significant difference.
I don't have the right to cancer care
Truth: All people have the right to access proven and effective cancer
treatments and services on equal terms, and without suffering hardship
as a consequence. Before starting treatment, do your research, ensure
your hospital is equipped and you have the right health care
professionals (breast surgeon, surgical and radiation
oncologists).Sebeccly Cancer Care is committed to improving cancer
care.
Breast cancer surgery could cause death and makes the cancer to spread
Truth: This myth may have started many decades ago when patients with
cancer already had advanced stages of the disease by the time they
sought medical care. Doctors who operated to diagnose the illness may
have found advanced cancer that could not be treated successfully, so
when patients died a short time later, observers claimed surgery
caused the spread of cancer cells, ultimately killing the patient.
Breast surgeons/surgical oncologists are doctors highly trained in the
intricacies of cancer surgery and anatomy. Patients and their loved
ones should not delay or refuse surgery, which is an effective
treatment.
Government hospitals are not equipped to treat cancer, most patients die there
Truth: While the Government hospitals have their challenges, currently
they are amongst the best places for patients to receive care because
of the specialists and facilities available there. It is common for
patients who have received care in various places with no success to
present to the Government hospitals as a last resort and in these
situations; the option of treating with intent to cure is low.
Painful breast lumps are not breast cancer
Truth: Generally breast cancer lumps are painless, but pain alone
cannot rule out cancer. Some women also believe that a painless lump
must not be cancer. This is not true. There's no correlation between
whether the lump is painful and whether it's cancerous. There is a
popular saying amongst cancer specialists 'All lumps are guilty, until
proven otherwise' therefore it doesn't matter if the lump is painful
or not or that you are in your 20's; if you notice a breast lump,
visit your doctor immediately.
--Vanguard
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