Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Campus Health Services (CHS) recently offered free clinical breast examinations for staff and students, in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
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In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Stellenbosch University’s Campus Health Services (CHS) offered free clinical breast examinations to staff and students from 3 to 31 October. This service was available on the Stellenbosch main and Tygerberg campuses, according to Dr Lynne Julie, a healthcare practitioner at CHS. PHOTO: Andrea de Lilly
This is according to Dr Lynne Julie, a healthcare practitioner at CHS. Staff and students were able to book an appointment and receive a free clinical breast examination from 3 to 31 October, said Julie.
“The goal of the initiative is to educate staff and students about the importance of screening for breast cancer,” said Julie.
This service was provided to both Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campuses, she added.
CHS has provided these services every October since 2012, however, Covid-19 disrupted this service for 2020 and 2021, said Julie.
Diagnosing breast cancer
Breast cancer is the growth of abnormal cancerous cells found in breast tissue, which can occur in the ducts, lobules or behind the nipple of the breast, said Dr Firzana Hendricks, a registrar in SU’s department of radiation oncology.
“Not all patients experience symptoms […] However, a painless lump felt in the breast is one of the first symptoms that may appear,” said Hendricks.
The larger it grows – the more advanced the cancer – one can also see changes in the skin such as redness and swelling around the breast, said Hendricks. Nipple discharge is another symptom to look out for, she added.
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Being a female is already a risk factor for developing breast cancer, said Dr Firzana Hendricks, a registrar in Stellenbosch University’s department of radiation oncology. However, according to the Cancer Association of South Africa, women can consider certain lifestyle changes which could lower their risk of developing breast cancer. GRAPHIC: Andrea de Lilly
Breast self-examination
Educating oneself on the warning signs and symptoms of breast cancer is essential. It is for this reason that CHS provides these clinical breast examinations, explained Julie.
“We see young women in their 20s being diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Hendricks. Therefore it is important that the average female should examine or feel their own breast every six months, she added.
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One in 27 women in South Africa are affected by breast cancer, according to Lucy Balona, head of marketing and communication for the Cancer Association for South Africa (CANSA). Regular breast self-examinations are important in discovering breast cancer, said Balona. While not all breast lumps indicate cancer, they should be investigated, she added. PHOTO: Andrea de Lilly
“Being a female is already a risk factor for developing breast cancer,” said Hendricks. Other risk factors include; genetics, having more than one female family member with a history of breast cancer, taking oral contraceptives, early onset of menstruation and obesity, she added.
A national priority
Breast cancer is seen as a national priority with increasing incidents occurring in South Africa, said Lucy Balona, head of marketing and communications for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), via email correspondence with MatieMedia.
There is growing concern that most women present late-stage cancer, which makes for a difficult prognosis, said Balona.
As such, “CANSA urges women to go for annual health check-ups and screening to detect cancer early”, she said.
It is important to know how to do a breast self-examination and the Cancer Association for South Africa (CANSA) – a leader in the fight against cancer in South Africa – provides detailed illustrations of how to do one and what signs to look out for. VIDEO: YouTube/Cancer Association of South Africa
Early detection can save a life
Doing regular breast self-examinations plays an important role in discovering breast cancer, said Balona. And while not all breast lumps indicate cancer, they should be investigated, she added.
“Early diagnosis improves cancer outcomes by providing care at the earliest possible stage,” said Julie.