Cancer awareness day Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade surrounding tissues,(WHO,2020).It is the second leading cause of death (after heart disease) in the United States and around the world. In 2018 an estimated 9.5 million people died of cancer worldwide and this is why cancer is a critical health issue. World cancer day is observed globally on the 4th of February, the aim being to inform and encourage people on its early detection, prevention as well as its treatment. The day is an initiative which was taken by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to campaign and advocate for the targets of World Cancer Declaration. UICC was established in 1993 and is working towards medical research and eradication of cancer around the world. There are several types of cancer which include breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, uterine cancer, colorectal cancer, lymphomas etc. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women but mainly in women. It occurs when some breasts cells begin to grow abnormally and these cells divide further than healthy cells do and continue to accumulate forming lumps. Most often begins with cells in the milk producing ducts (Invasive ductal carcinoma). Breast cancer is caused by complex interaction of one's genetic makeup and the environment. More so if a close relative has had breast cancer, a person's chance of developing breast cancer increases. Symptoms of breast cancer include new lump in breast, thickening and swelling of part of the breast, nipple discharge including blood pain around the breast and change in size or shape of breasts. Concerning treatment of breast cancer, women diagnosed with cancer undergo surgery and may receive additional treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to destroy fast cells such as cancer cells. It may be recommended to try to control the cancer and decrease the symptoms being caused. However it is important for all of us to take cognizance of the fact that chemotherapy has some side effects which include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue among others. Apart from chemotherapy, radiotherapy is also used to for treating people and it uses controlled doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells. Its side effects are extreme tiredness, irritation and darkening of the skin on breasts which may lead to sore, red skin and excess fluid buildup in arms. Hormone therapy is also a way of treating breast cancer. Some breast cancer is stimulated to grow by the hormones estrogen or progesterone. Hormone therapy therefore lowers the levels of estrogen hormones in a person's body or stops their effects.
By Tapiwa Mutasa
