By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Seven women suffering from breast cancer have undergone surgery at the Kenema Government Hospital. District Medical Superintendent Dr. Ibrahim Mark Kapuwa led the team of medic that conducted the removal of tumours.
Dr. Kapuwa told Politico that a lot of women are suffering from breast cancer and that there is need for action by medical practitioners to help those that are battling with the disease.
He said women may notice breast lumps which develop over the period through the growth of the cells in the body. He urged women that may detect something like a ball in their breast to go to the hospital for medical checkup before it could develop further and result in breast cancer.
‘’Breast cancer is becoming a health threat to women in our society,’’ he said.
He attributed some of the symptoms of breast cancer to change in colour of the breast’s skin and discharge of water from the breast. He said statistics show that one out of eight women may have high chances of getting breast cancer, some of which could be hereditary.
Dr. Kapuwa stated that for Kenema municipality they have received a lot of cases of women battling with the disease, and that this year alone they have done seven breast cancer operations and more than thirty being put on prescription drugs and observed.
He reiterated that breast cancer is becoming alarming, thus the need to take it seriously as it is caused by the rapid growth of the human cells which most time can occur in any part of the body. He advised people to minimize the excessive alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking among others, noting that breast cancer mostly affects women, whilst men suffer from prostate cancer.
The medic said that cancer in general can transfer from one part of the organ to another and can be very discomforting.
He said women victims of breast cancer sometimes think it has to do with witchcraft and would instead apply herbal treatment which he said has the likelihood of destroying the immune system and that only when it reaches the worst stage that they seek hospital help.
He advised people to go to the hospital as soon as they notice symptoms so they can get early treatment. He advised against traditional treatment of cancer as he said it is very dangerous for one’s safety and health.
Breast cancer is becoming a major concern in the country as more women are diagnosed with the disease.
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