THE City of Bulawayo is encouraging its employees and residents to constantly ensure that they screen for the disease beyond the month of October.
October is regarded as Pink Month and is largely dedicated to raising awareness and promoting breast cancer awareness and screening globally.
Breast cancer is a disease where abnormal cells in the breast grow uncontrollably, forming a tumour.
This disease is common among women, with 0.5 to 1% of men being affected by it as well.
To sensitise the public on breast cancer, the City of Bulawayo, for the duration of October, was encouraging its staff to wear pink ribbons as a way of promoting breast cancer awareness.
This year’s Breast Cancer Awareness campaign was running under the theme: Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters.
The City also used its weekly radio programme City Matters/Nyawolunye leZakhamizi on Skyz Metro FM on Tuesday to educate the public on the dangers of breast cancer and how to handle it.
The campaign was also extended to the city’s clinics, with an increased number of women being screened for the disease.
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In a staff notice on breast cancer, health services director Edwin Mzingwane — said those from families that have previously recorded breast cancer should be the most alert.
“The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness and promote behaviour change for early detection of breast cancer and honour persons with lived experience,” the notice read.
“Everyone, especially women over 40 or those with a family history of breast cancer, should remain vigilant for the following symptoms: a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm; a change in the size or shape of the breast; dimpling or puckering of the breast skin; a nipple turning inward; nipple discharge, especially bloody discharge; scaly, red, or swollen skin on the breast or nipple; and skin pitting that resembles the surface of an orange.”
He said lack of awareness and stigma can contribute to barriers in detecting the disease in men.
City of Bulawayo councilors wore pink ribbons at the October full council meeting to promote breast cancer awareness.
Speaking during the city’s radio programme, council’s clinical medical officer, Taku Chitakatira, said it was pleasing to note that most women now have an appreciation of breast cancer.
“Women have become knowledgeable about the disease, and they now have confidence to go and seek medical attention in order to detect breast cancer as early as possible,” Chitakatira said.
“We also encourage women to conduct self-examination.
He said the availability of clinical services for breast cancer throughout the year shows that the disease requires constant attention, not just in October.
“A breast cancer clinic has been established at the United Bulawayo Hospitals, where every week we see a high number of people seeking information on breast cancer,” he said.
“We have also spread our services to places like Gwanda and Beitbridge, where we have nurses who are on standby to assist those that need help on breast cancer.”
He discouraged members of the public from relying on traditional methods of curing cancer, as most of them are not effective.
According to the World Health Organisation, breast cancer caused an estimated 670,000 deaths globally in 2022.
It is estimated that half of all breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factors other than sex and age.
