Durban - With one in every 29 women affected by breast cancer, the devastating disease has become the most prevalent gender-based cancer in the country.
The National Cancer Registry (NCR), a specialised division of the National Health Laboratory Services, reveals that Indian and white women are the highest affected with the illness, while black and coloured women fall close behind.
Women also have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than males.
The ratio of male to female breast cancers is 1:135.
In the NCR’s most recent survey, breast cancer was responsible for 20.8% of female cancers and more than 10% of the entire cancer burden.
A total of 8 203 new cases were observed and the age standardised incidence rate of 35.12 per 100 000 per year.
A total of 19.89% occurred in white women, 20.87% in black women, 26.63% in coloured women and 35.44% in Indian women.
October has therefore been nationally set aside as Breast Cancer Awareness Month to motivate public and private healthcare structures to raise awareness across all races and class structures.
Lorraine Govender, the National Advocacy Co-Ordinator for Cansa, said a proactive approach to the illness and breast self-examinations (BSE) was the first and best step to early detection.
“Some women feel very comfortable doing BSE regularly, which involves a systematic step-by-step approach to examining the look and feel of their breasts.
“Other women are more comfortable simply looking and feeling their breasts in a less systematic approach, such as while showering or getting dressed or doing an occasional thorough exam.
“Sometimes, women are so concerned about ‘doing it right’ that they become stressed over the technique. Doing BSE regularly is one way for women to know how their breasts normally look and feel, and to notice any changes. The goal, with or without BSE, is to report any breast changes to a doctor or nurse right away.”
Changes
Some of the symptoms and signs of breast cancer in women, she said, are changes in the breast such as a lump or thickening, a change in the shape of the nipple, particularly if it turns in, sinks into the breast, or has an irregular shape, a blood-stained discharge from the nipple and a rash on a nipple or surrounding area.
Other symptoms include swelling or a lump in the armpit, nipple tenderness, a change in skin texture, unexplained change in the size or shape of the breast or any unexplained swelling.
Govender said the most common worry for women, especially those with a family history of breast cancer, was the overestimation of their own risk to the disease.
“Women should be reminded that most breast cancer is unrelated to a positive family history and any breast changes should be reported and acted on.
“Individuals and families who are at risk for inherited breast cancer require genetic counselling, genetic testing and potentially further management, depending on the outcome of their testing.”
She said women who are at risk, those who have known breast health problems and women who are 40 and over, should schedule regular mammograms, which was an imaging method based on X-rays for the detection of breast cancer.
“By identifying tumours at earlier stages, when treatment has a greater likelihood of success, screening with mammography reduces breast cancer mortality.
“Women aged 40 to 54 should have an annual mammogram. Women 55 years and older should change to having a mammogram every 2 years or have the choice to continue with an annual mammogram.
“Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 years or longer. Every woman should be informed of the known benefits, limitations and potential harms linked to breast cancer screening by means of a mammogram.”
If cancer is detected, a team of specialists will recommend the best form of treatment, depending on the size of the tumour and the stage of the cancer.
There are two main treatments for breast cancer - either the breast conserving surgery, also known as lumpectomy, which is the removal of the cancerous lump, or a mastectomy, the removal of the entire breast.
Radiation, chemotherapy or hormone therapy may also be used to treat some symptoms of advanced cancer.
Cansa has organised breast cancer awareness events this month, as well as nine mobile health clinics that will travel to remote areas throughout South Africa to reach women and men, who would otherwise not have access to screening.