32.8 C
Belize City
Thursday, March 28, 2024

World Down Syndrome Day

Photo: Students and staff of Stella Maris...

BPD awards 3 officers with Women Police of the Year

Photo: (l-r) Myrna Pena, Carmella Cacho, and...

Suicide on the rise!

Photo: Iveth Quintanilla, Mental Health Coordinator by Charles...

Breast Cancer: It’s Our Fight

HighlightsBreast Cancer: It’s Our Fight

Every month should be Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A walk around your neighborhood will reveal evidence of some households, businesses and schools who joined in October’s campaign to “Paint Belize Pink.” Each year, this initiative acts as a reminder of all our grandmothers, mothers and daughters who were victims of the disease and to encourage women to get tested early. Most Belizeans nationwide acknowledge this time as a yearly movement to increase the public’s awareness. Despite our current efforts to combat the disease, we still have a very long way to go. We all should have an obligation, both men and women, to take action in any way possible to help fight breast cancer. Taking steps to stimulate general awareness, detect the disease in its early stages, and donate money to purchase detection and treatment facilities, are simple steps that can help save many lives.

There is no denying the pressure that breast cancer has planted in our society. Although our country has stepped a stair up in detecting and treating the disease, it is still considered one of the most common types of cancers among Belizean women. Based on a cross-sectional study for the years 2009 to 2011, Adele Ramos, assistant editor and journalist of the Amandala newspaper, states in her article “Belizean Men have also Developed Breast Cancer,” that Belize saw 15 breast cancer cases recorded each year at the Central Medical Laboratory, which reports both private and public sector cases in the country.

We will all be touched by breast cancer at some point in our lives, either directly or indirectly. Supporting and raising awareness for a cause like Breast Cancer can be fun and easy. Wearing pink ribbons all year round, reminding family and friends to receive daily checkups, being a part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities held every October, participating in yearly Cancer walks, are effortless ways to show that we stand in solidarity with our sisters who have battled and lost and those who have survived breast cancer. In developing countries, the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not survive because their cancer is detected too late. Here is where advocates can contribute to raising awareness of signs and symptoms among the general public, where we can all make a vital difference to the lives of people affected by this cancer by letting them know about the support and services available to them in Belize. Donning ribbons, pink shirts or accessories, purchasing beauty products from brands that contribute to the cause, will show that you stand with those who are still fighting.

The Belize Cancer Society has for many years now been emphasizing early detection as key. Knowledge is supreme when it comes to detecting and treating breast cancer. In a 2001 report by the American Public Health Association, it is documented that African American women “generally present their cancer at a later stage” (Wingo et al. 1197-1207) with late-stage tumors that could have been detected at primary-care level and for that reason they have the “highest breast cancer death rates” (Howe, Wingo, and Thun 824-842). This reflects the issue that we Belizeans face today; however, many of these deaths can be prevented by: self-examination, scheduled clinical examination and screening mammography; all essential methods used here in Belize.

Unfortunately, many avoid practicing the easy and cost-free mode of detection, self-breast exams. When we regularly perform self-exams, it allows us to be familiar with what normal healthy breasts feel like. Being aware of our bodies yields a greater ability to notice when something is out of the ordinary. Breast Self–Exams (BSEs) are fairly easy. It can be done in the shower, in front of the mirror or lying down. Breast cancer is most often discovered by women themselves, so we should all make the examining of breasts a monthly or a weekly practice.

Imagine the thousands of women worldwide who have had to discover cancer the tough way—chronic pain in their breast(s), seeing heaps of hair being washed down the shower drain—should be a stimulus for all of us to take advantage of the resources available here in Belize for detection: breast biopsy, breast ultrasound, and mammography.

In the article “Screening for Breast Cancer with Mammography,” Jørgensen, Keen, and Gøtzsche argue that the effect of screening is smaller today and studies have revealed that mammogram screening is no longer effective (621-6) however, despite this ongoing debate, mammography is still the best and widely used screening tool for the early detection of breast cancer today.

However ineffective it is believed to be, there has been a significant decrease in breast cancer deaths worldwide thanks to early detection by Mammogram. It is the best test we have here in Belize so we mustn’t miss out on the opportunity to stop breast cancer in its tracks by discovering it early.

Aside from raising general awareness, donating is a great way that we can contribute to the fight against breast cancer. Donating money to public clinics or organizations like the Belize Cancer Society, which occasionally offers free mammograms, is a great way to devote your money.

We can also donate by purchasing items which show their support for breast cancer. There are major companies and brands here in Belize, like the Grace Kennedy Belize Ltd., who stamp their products with a pink ribbon. You can even support breast cancer financially by not spending a cent. You can use social mediums like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, to help raise funds. There are many other ways that we can help women in today’s economic situation who have lost their jobs and cannot afford treatment to get the help they need.

How can your donations help? Living in a third world country, your gift will help support and promote the highest-quality care for Breast Cancer patients here in Belize. Someone we know will be affected by breast cancer. If we don’t do it for the thousands of people who are already diagnosed, let’s do it for the one person you know who has or have battled with breast cancer.

Indeed, through early detection of breast cancer by performing self-breast exams, clinical exams and mammograms, thousands of lives can be saved each year. Even though Breast Cancer Awareness month ended a few days ago, the suffering in some of our Belizean women continues. Our journey of taking a personal and dynamic role in raising breast cancer awareness should be ongoing. Breast cancer is a battle that shakes us all and we mustn’t stop hoping for a day when the war will finally be over.

Devotion: Mrs. Evangeline Banner
Breast Cancer Fighter
Sunrise: September 21, 1927
Sunset: April 1, 2013

Check out our other content

World Down Syndrome Day

Suicide on the rise!

Check out other tags:

International