BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WEEK 2019
The Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world every October, helps
to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well
as palliative care of this disease.
Research shows that there are about 1.38 million new cases and 458 000 deaths from breast
cancer each year (IARC Globocan, 2008).
Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer
in women worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. In low and middle income
countries the incidence has been rising up steadily in the last years due to an increase
in life expectancy, increase urbanization and adoption of western lifestyles.
The breast cancer awareness sensitization was organized by the MWAN Medication Women
Association of Nigeria with support from Goldcoast Developmental Foundation, Dise Ogbise
Foundation, National Association of women journalist, Cancer Registry of Federal Medical
Center, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, FIDA, National Association of Nigerian Nurses
and midwife. Members and volunteers did a road walk from Federal Medical Center to Swali
market Yenagoa to sensitize the market women about the prevalence of breast cancer,
diagnosis and treatment options.
Currently, there is not sufficient knowledge on the causes of breast cancer, therefore,
early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When
breast cancer is detected early, and if adequate diagnosis and treatment are available,
there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured.
If detected late, however, curative treatment is often no longer an option. In such
cases, palliative care to relief the suffering of patients and their families is needed.