According to the Cancer Association of South Africa, South African women have a one in nine chance of getting cancer, with breast cancer topping the list of possibilities. The month of October is dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness, which is an international campaign to increase awareness of breast cancer and to help charities focused around breast cancer, to raise funds for research into the disease and possible treatments thereof.
By putting together this blog piece, we think of it as our contribution to bringing some more awareness to breast cancer.
BREAST HEALTH AND EARLY DETECTION
It must be stressed that early detection is of utmost importance in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. By identifying breast cancer in the early stages, you have a better chance of recovery as there are more treatment options available for early detection diagnosis. There are, however, cases where there are no symptoms, or by the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun spreading to the rest of your body.
Bear in mind that not all changes in your body or lumps will be cancerous, but it is very important to ensure you talk to your doctor should you notice a change.
These are some warning signs that you can look out for:
- A lump in the breast or underarm
- Spontaneous or bloody discharge from the nipple
- Retraction or indentation of the nipple area
- Change in the size of a breast
- Flattening or indentation of the skin covering the breast
- Redness or pitting of the breast skin, similar to that of an orange
- Crustiness or rash of the nipple or areola
BREAST SELF-EXAM
To ensure we know and understand our bodies, we need to become familiar with it. This can be done by conducting a self-exam, where you will be able to notice any lumps, pain, or any other changes in your body. If you are unsure of how to do a self-examination, Discovery has put together an easy to follow how-to guide on how to conduct your self-exam:
GETTING INVOLVED
If you would like to involved in bringing awareness to breast cancer, you are welcome to follow these pages:
- PinkDrive
PinkDrive’s cardinal purpose is to contribute meaningfully towards preventing as many people as it can, from succumbing to breast, cervical, prostate, and testicular cancer. Its primary focus is on citizens without access to reasonable care for these conditions, and who reside in areas where health services do not reach.
PinkDrive is the indispensable, tangible breast cancer Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) powering South Africa´s first mobile PinkDrive Mammography Unit and PinkDrive Educational Unit through our country, driving home the fact that `Early Detection Will Help Prolong A Life´.
The organisation is currently in need of funding. We urge all those who can, to please help raise funds, which will in turn increase mobile units and more lives being saved.
- PinkDrive x Pick n Pay Pharmacies
Pick n Pay Pharmacies are in full support of the PinkDrive affording women who are medically uninsured the opportunity to make use of the PinkDrive services. For more information about this initiative, you’re welcome to follow this link: https://bit.ly/3diCppy.
- Africology in partnership with PinkDrive
For October, Africology has partnered with PinkDrive, to raise funds for the organisation. They have created a limited edition 50ml Anti-Oxidant Serum that is for sale on their website. Africology will donate a portion of all sales of the product to the Pinkdrive initiative. You are welcome to make a purchase here: https://bit.ly/3lEM38K.
- Bosom Buddies
An initiative by The Breast Health Foundation, Bosom Buddies provides emotional support to women and men affected by Breast Cancer at the point of diagnosis, during any treatment, and thereafter. Run by volunteers, the “Buddies”, create a loving, warm, and compassionate environment. They support not only breast cancer patients but also their spouses, partners, family members, loved ones, and supporters. They also seek to support all those affected by Breast Cancer through telephonic care trees.
- Cuppa For Cancer
Cuppa is about getting together with any group of people – friends, family, colleagues – and having fun together and of course a ‘cuppa something”. Cuppas can be organised by anyone. The aim is to bring people together for a good cause and encourage those joining the Cuppa to make donations towards cancer research.
