Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Cameroon’s Humanitarian Groups Urge Women to Seek Early Detection and Treatment

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off, humanitarian groups in Cameroon are visiting remote areas to raise awareness and encourage women to seek early detection and treatment. The initiative is crucial, as about 60% of the over 7,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer in Cameroon this year have died due to late presentation at hospitals. Breast cancer deaths are often unreported, as families abandon women to die at home, perpetuating the myth that cancer cannot be treated.

Emilie Nadege Atangana, a 30-year-old history student, shared her harrowing experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. She was abandoned by her relatives, friends, and fellow students, who believed she would not survive. However, medical staff at the Yaounde Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital told her that 90% of early-stage breast cancers are curable, giving her hope and a new lease on life.

This year’s theme for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Cameroon is “No one Should Face Breast Cancer Alone and Yes, No One is Expected to Fight Breast Cancer Alone.” Ruth Amin, a public health specialist and project manager at the Yaounde-based Lifafa Research Foundation, emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment. “Women should speak up, and women should go to health facilities to get examined because the earlier they are being diagnosed, the easier it would be for them to be treated,” she said.

The World Health Organization estimates that Cameroon has about 20,000 new cancer cases, including breast cancers, each year, with 65% related deaths. To combat this, Cameroon has equipped all hospitals with qualified medical staff members and equipment to diagnose breast cancer. Humanitarian groups are urging men to support their spouses, mothers, and sisters in raising awareness and seeking medical attention.

As the world marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is crucial to remember that breast cancer is a treatable disease, and early detection is key to saving lives. Cameroon’s humanitarian groups are leading the way in promoting awareness and encouraging women to seek medical attention, but more needs to be done to combat the stigma surrounding breast cancer and ensure that women receive the care they need.