According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, breast cancer is the commonest cancer among women in Rwanda followed by cervical and stomach cancer.

While the number of cases of breast cancer in Rwanda keeps going up, there are many ways we can control and conquer breast cancer.

 "Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women.  Most of the cases occur in women over the age of 50 but breast cancer can occur in younger women as well” explains Dr Shishir Shetty.

 "If you notice any lump or change to the normal breast then you should see a doctor promptly. People have to know that breast cancer is conquerable especially if detected early” he adds

Dr Shishir Shetty is a Surgical Oncologist from Apollo Hospitals – Navi Mumbai, a hospital popular with Rwandan patients.

Apollo Hospitals is also the world’s largest private cancer care provider and running the world’s leading solid organ transplant program.

Speaking at a breast cancer screening exercise early this year, Dr Francois Uwinkindi, the Director of Cancer unit at Rwanda Biomedical Center said there are atleast 300 women with breast cancer in Rwanda.

"The number is low but we think there are many others who are suffering from such cancer and die because they never go for early examination thinking they are suffering from different disease which is not cancer,” he said.

Dr  Shetty explains that ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma.

This cancer begins in cells that line a breast duct and about 7 of every 10 women with breast cancer have ductal carcinoma.

Lobular Carcinoma is second most common (1 of every 10 women) type of breast cancer.

He encourages women to go for early screening and doctors handling breast cancer patients to check both breasts and lymph nodes in the armpit, feeling for any lumps or other abnormalities.

If the doctor feels that further tests are needed, you may need a biopsy, from which experts determine whether the cells are cancerous or not.

A biopsy sample is normally analysed to determine the type of cells involved in the breast cancer, the aggressiveness (grade) of the cancer, and whether the cancer cells have hormone receptors or other receptors that may influence your treatment options.

Dr  Shetty  states that apart from getting screened, women can also do regular breast self-examination and look out for signs such as: a breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue, blood discharge from the nipple, change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast, changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling, inverted nipple, Peeling, scaling or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin.

Dr Shetty urges women who discover a lump or other changes in their breast to immediately make an appointment with cancer specialists.

Risk Factors

"If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or other cancers, it is recommend you undergo genetic counselling and if required testing, to help identify specific mutations in BRCA or other genes that are being passed through your family" Dr Shetty advises. 

Other risk factors for breast cancer include: increase in age, radiation exposure, obesity,  early onset of menstruation,  late onset of menopause, postmenopausal hormone therapy, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Treatment

Breast cancer treatment options are decided based on the type of breast cancer, its stage and grade, size, and whether the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones.

Women with breast cancer normally get treatment by surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy,chemotherapy and targeted therapy