NAMAKGALE– October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This annual campaign raises awareness of breast cancer risks, the value of screening and early detection, and treatment options available to women and men who are diagnosed with one of the many forms of this disease
Maphutha Malatji Hospital in partnership with Avon held the 5 KM annual breast cancer fun walk/run on Saturday, October 31 at Kgorong Car Wash in Namakgale, as part of a campaign to create cancer awareness.
This year’s event captured hundreds of people that came out and participated in the walk. It was attended by dignitaries such as Hospital officials, ward councilors, community leaders. Amongst the dignitaries was cancer survivor Virginia Mathebula.
She encouraged participants to constantly have a pap smear.
“It’s extremely important that women have regular breast examinations and have a pap smear every year,” she advises.
“It’s not a cliche that early detection saves lives, it’s a reality. It saved my life,” Mathebula said
This horrible disease is real and affects an average of 1 in 8 women who develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. Don’t forget; the disease affects men as well.
According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), it is estimated that 115000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year, it further states that Cancer kills more people than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. This number is significant; it can be your mother, daughter, aunt, sister, brother, and uncle.
Meanwhile, Maphutha Malatji Hospital communication Manager, Onnie Rammalo emphasized the culture of prevention is better than cure and encourages people to spread the word to their families.
“It is the responsibility of the hospital as a health institution to raise awareness about cancers affecting our people and urges everyone to be aware of symptoms, changes in their bodies, and to go for cancer screening, to detect it early,” Rammalo said.
