A Somerset West-based breast cancer awareness campaign once again proved that regular check-ups are essential, even for men, as more than 10% of patients referred for further testing during the programme, were men.
“The free check-ups offered by the Pink Drive as part of the HelderbergFM Lezinda Dampies Memorial Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign during October resulted in 11 of the 66 check-ups referred for further testing with five of them being men,” said Vanessa Bourne, head of programming at HelderbergFM. “This is the second year we have presented the campaign to honour our former colleague who died of breast cancer in 2019. We are happy HelderbergFM can make a positive contribution in the ongoing struggle against breast cancer, which has become so endemic in our society today.”
Regular screening for breast cancer is an absolute must, state Dr Rinky Vamvadelis and Dr Deidré Reed of the Helderberg Family Practice, a part-sponsor of this year’s drive. They pointed out that breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in developed countries, but early detection and new treatment options have decreased the mortality rate among women significantly.
The Pink Drive, which conducted the screenings during the campaign, said the main symptoms are changes in the appearance of the breast and nipple, lumps, nipple discharges, enlarged lymph nodes under the arms, puckering and skin indentations, pain, swelling and tenderness, and skin changes such as rashes and redness, among others.
