The National Youth Development Trust held a Young Women’s
Study Circle in commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The objective
of the study circle was to share key information with the young women about
breast cancer and demystify myths about the disease. Mrs. Praxedis Nago a survivor
of breast cancer and volunteer at Cancer Association of Zimbabwe facilitated
the study circle.
Speaking at the meeting, Nago said that there was
need for young women to understand cancer and its causes as the disease has
been associated with witchcraft by a number of people leading to failure to get
treatment and subsequently death.
“Breast cancer is a disease that attacks mostly
women but men can be affected by it too,” said Nago. “It is a result of cells
that continue growing in the body eventually forming a tumor. If you see a lump
on any part of your body you should go and see a doctor because it might be a
cancerous tumor which is also known as a malignant tumor,” she said.
Nago outlined the stages of cancer to the young
women. She said that there were four stages of which stage one would be the
point when the cancer is just starting and in stage four it would be at its
advanced stage when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body other than
the breast.
She said that treatment for breast cancer involves a
mastectomy, which is the surgical removal of the breast, or a lumpectomy which
is a surgical operation to remove the tumor only. After undergoing one of these
processes one would have to undergo chemotherapy, a process where they use
chemical agents to treat cancer or radiotherapy which involves using radiation
Xrays or beta rays directed at the breast to kill the cancer cells.
“There is need for people to persevere through
treatment as chemotherapy can be very painful, its side effects include the
loss of hair,” said Nago. “Radiotherapy on the other hand makes one tired and
sweaty. The important thing is not to
focus on the side effects of the treatment but on being treated and staying
alive.”
The young women were advised to avoid stress and
watch the food they eat as these had been identified as causes of cancer. They
were also told that cancer is hereditary hence the need to check if the family
has a known history of cancer.
Nago demonstrated how the young women could check
for lumps on their breasts, she also gave them pamphlets to read and distribute
in their various wards in order to pass information about breast cancer. As a
result, the young women pledged to regularly assess themselves for any signs of
breast cancer for early detection.
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