Beyond The Pink Ribbon
Breast Cancer Awareness in Africa: #BeyondThePinkRibbon
#Pink Ribbons are a symbol of breast cancer awareness, but they don't tell the whole story. In Africa, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and it accounts for 27.7% of all cancer cases.
Unfortunately, breast cancer awareness in Africa is low, and many women are diagnosed with the disease at a late stage, when it is more difficult to treat. This is partly due to a lack of access to screening and diagnostic services, and partly due to the stigma associated with cancer. The actual number of cancer diagnosis is not published, nor is it easily accessible.
We need to do more than wear #Pink Ribbons for a few days and feel like we have done our part for breast cancer awareness. We need to talk about the facts and figures about breast cancer in Africa, and we need to support organizations that are working to improve access to screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
According to the Department of Health, the issuing of regulation (380) of the National Health Act of 2003 formally established the National Cancer Registry (NCR).
Establishing this Act meant compulsory registrations of confirmed cancer diagnosis in the country was obligatory, however as the National Cancer Registry, for the country the last data from the NCR was in 2020. These numbers unfortunately do not appear to be accurate.
Number of Breast Cancer cases reported by (NCR) 1994-2009 **
Black 33,956
White 33,011
Coloured 12, 538
Asian 4, 231
**(Unfortunately the above numbers are not an accurate representation of the state of Breast Cancer in South Africa by population group)
#BreastCancerAwareness #Africa #BeyondThePinkRibbon