Published 4 July 2016
Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) in partnership with Medical Women Association of South Africa (MWASA) held a breast cancer staff awareness talk at the FPD head office to encourage women to be more aware about the existence of breast cancer.
Dr Sarah Rayne, a specialist surgeon with a special interest in breast cancer management, non-cancerous breast conditions and complex breastfeeding problems focused her talk in motivating women to understand breast cancer and its impact on their lives and to educate those who are not as informed about the disease including men and older women.
She also emphasised the importance of breast examination once a month to be mindful of the changes in the breasts throughout the month. Dr Sarah advised that a mammogram is suitable for women older than 35 years and younger women should resort to doing an ultrasound regularly.
Women are at a high risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer when they are getting older and when there is a history of breast cancer or any other related cancer diseases in their families. Independent Public Health Consultant, Dr Malebo Moboyane from MWASA practically showed the women how to do a self-examination. She urged the women to own and know their bodies and further advised that immediately when they start noticing changes, they should go to the clinic or hospital to be examined.
Breast cancer survivor, Ms Pearl Makgalemela shared her heart-warming story with the women to prove that breast cancer can be defeated. Pearl was diagnosed with stage 3 of breast cancer in 2002, she went through 6 sessions of chemotherapy, 3 weeks of radiation and 5 years of tomoxophine treatment. 5 years later, doctors noticed that she had lung cancer, they placed her on another treatment and she fought and survived.
After the re-occurrence of her lung cancer, she decided to stop calling herself a survivor but a fighter because this time it took her strength, but she fought a good fight hence she is still continuing her journey.