As Rwanda joins the rest of the world to mark the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, cancer experts have called for more measures in raising awareness around the country.

Dr Fidel Rubagumya, founder and director of Rwanda Children’s Cancer Relief, said breast cancer and other cancers in Rwanda were still a challenge because of limited awareness among the public.

"The general population and some healthcare providers are not cognizant of the disease. This is something that delays medical consultation resulting to delayed appropriate referrals,” Rubagumya said.

He also warned about the severity of the disease and called for more male involvement to promote early and timely breast screening.

"The sad reality is that breast cancer does not discriminate between men or women, black or white, rich or poor yet the simplest thing in the fight of breast cancer is knowing your breast and early detection,” he added.

Burden of breast cancer

More than 500,000 women around the world succumb to breast cancer because the majority are diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Despite survival rates being low ranging from 10 to 40 per cent in settings where early detection and basic treatment are available and accessible, the five-year survival rate for early-localised breast cancer exceeds 80 per cent, according to the World Health Organization.

Currently, Data from Butaro Cancer Centre indicates breast cancer accounts for 40.3 per cent of all diagnosed cancers. 

However Philippa Kibugu, the Director of the Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa, pointed out that unless public sensitization is improved, breast cancer cases will continue rising.

"Most people, especially in the rural setting, are unaware about breast cancer and as a group we have to address this challenge,” Kibugu said.

Kibugu, who is also a breast cancer survivor, added that within health care centers, there is more need for equipment, drugs and caretakers.

"Equipment used in the detection of the lumps (mammograms) are currently few and there is also demand for drugs and caretakers,” She added.

Marking the breast cancer awareness month

October is recognised as the breast cancer awareness month worldwide and in Rwanda it will be marked with a walk from King Faisal Hospital at 2:00pm then RDB parking lot for refreshments and end at Christ Church of Rwanda CCR Gacuriro on October 25, 2015.

Activities will include a Community Breast Cancer Forum led by a panel of doctors, nurses, survivors, and students and a Question and Answer Session.  

Free Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) will be provided by trained nurses from the Rwanda Midwives Association (RAM) before disseminating home Health Education materials.

The Ulinzi breast cancer awareness campaign will conclude with a fundraising dinner on October 31, 2015.

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