Hope in the fight against breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting South African women. According to the National Cancer Registry, 1 in 35 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime and younger women are increasingly falling prey to the disease.

The good news is that if it’s caught early enough, breast cancer can be successfully treated and overcome. Take inspiration from the following famous women who are all breast cancer survivors:

• • E News! presenter and reality star Giuliana Rancic was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2011. She had a double mastectomy two months later followed by reconstructive surgery. She has since been in full remission from her cancer.

• • Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue is perhaps one of the most famous faces of breast cancer. Diagnosed in May 2005, she has since beaten her breast cancer.

• • Singer Sheryl Crow was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and has since beaten it. She strongly encourages a healthy diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds to keep healthy.

• • Sex and the City actress, Cynthia Nixon, was diagnosed in 2006 and kept her battle with the disease secret until two years later when she revealed she had overcome it.

• • Former Miss South Africa and businesswoman, Wilma van der Bijl, was 42 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. A routine check-up in 2005 revealed an abnormality and further investigation led to a double mastectomy, reconstruction and chemotherapy. The cancer has been in remission ever since and today Wilma is an ambassador for breast cancer awareness.

• • Actress and singer Olivia Newton-John (famous for her movie Grease), was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995. At first, she declined going for chemotherapy in favour of homeopathy instead, but soon changed her mind and had a partial mastectomy and breast reconstruction, followed by a year of chemotherapy.

• • Tennis legend Martina Navratilova was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer in 2010. After receiving six weeks of radiation therapy, she was declared free of cancer in October 2010.

Visit http://allafrica.com/stories/201310212223.html and http://www.cansa.org.za/teresa-wilson-breast-cancer-survivor/ to read about South African breast cancer survivors.

Focus on prevention

Visit http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps to see how you should examine your breasts every month. While many breast lumps are harmless, they should all be checked.

From the age of 40, you should go for a mammogram at least every three years even if you are symptom-free. If you are at high risk, you should have a mammogram every year. You can also visit your local CANCA Care Centre for a clinical breast examination. While the centre does not offer mammograms, the staff will refer you to a breast clinic, and if you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, the staff will guide you through the public health care system and offer you and your loved ones care and support.

 

Sources
www.cansa.org.za
www.health24.com