World cancer day, and breast cancer is a global call to action, resonating even more profoundly in Sierra Leone, where awareness remains a critical national issue. As the world unites under the theme “GIVE HOPE. SAVE LIVES.,” Sierra Leone grapples with the harsh reality that many women, girls, and men present with late-stage cancer due to a lack of knowledge and inadequate infrastructure.
In this low-income country, battling breast cancer often means venturing beyond borders. Patients embark on journeys to neighboring regions, India, or developed nations for treatments, including essential radiotherapy. The formidable challenges intensify as awareness remains scarce, leading to delayed diagnoses and limited access to life-saving interventions.
At the forefront of this fight stands the Thinking Pink Breast Cancer Foundation, a national NGO committed to raising awareness about breast cancer across the nation. The foundation not only educates but also sources funds to support financially challenged individuals through their prescribed treatment pathways.
Alarming trends emerge as breast abnormalities surface not only among older women but also school-age girls. Often, self-medication is attempted with over-the-counter remedies like mentholated rubs, antibiotics, or local herbal treatments. Tragically, individuals turn to the foundation only when conditions persist, frequently at a stage where invasive treatments like Mastectomy Surgery become the only recourse.
The urgent need for a comprehensive nationwide sensitization campaign becomes apparent. It is crucial to equip communities with the knowledge to recognize signs and symptoms early, fostering a culture of proactive health management.
Breast cancer, the most diagnosed cancer among women globally, holds the disheartening distinction of being the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women. It occurs when cells in the breast grow uncontrollably, forming tumors that can be detected through various methods, including x-rays and self-examinations.
Recognizing the signs and symptoms is paramount: lumps, thickening, rash, nipple discharge, sudden changes in size and shape, nipple itching, breast pains, tenderness, and inflammation should not be ignored. Risk factors such as age, genetics, personal and family history, diet, obesity, lack of exercise, hormone use, stress, and excessive alcohol consumption all contribute to the complexity of breast cancer.
Sierra Leone faces a stark reality of an equity gap in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Financial constraints on women living in low-income countries pose significant challenges for breast cancer management. The Thinking Pink Foundation, however, believes that “No one should die of Breast Cancer because of geography and poverty.”
The fight against breast cancer is a collective effort. Local and international partners, corporations, individuals, and anonymous donors play pivotal roles in supporting awareness campaigns, treatment assistance for diagnosed patients, and advancing the foundation’s mission.
The STEAM Reporting Network joins this crusade with a mission to raise awareness through reporting mobilization campaigns, media engagement, school visits, community outreach, and corporate partnerships. The mantra is clear: “Early Detection Saves Lives.” On this World Cancer Day, the call echoes through Sierra Leone’s hills and valleys—a rallying cry against breast cancer, an anthem of hope for a nation determined to save lives.
There is an urgent need for an intense sensitization campaign nationwide. It is essential to understand what signs and symptoms to look for stage three (3) Cancer in school girls as young as 16-18 years
Signs & Symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms of Breast Cancer noticed and ignored by women/ girls are lump, thickening, rash, nipple discharge, sudden change in size and shape, discoloration of breast, nipple itches, breast pains, tenderness and inflammation.