By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Oct. 15 (232News) – In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Africell Sierra Leone in partnership with MEPS Trust Well Woman Clinic has provided a free breast screening for all staff at Africell as part of a move to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.
The screening exercise which started last week is expected to carry on until the end of the month.
Speaking about the screening exercise, MEPS Trust Well Woman Clinic Head Sister, Adijatu Salam, explained that the screening aims to detect the disease early, as “early detection saves life”. She explained further that for the past five years, they have been working with Africell to raise awareness and that awareness has saved many lives.
Madam Salam stated that the screening would help staff at Africell to detect if they have a lump in their breast, as that will help them know their status and how they can take care of their breasts.
The MEPS Trust Well Woman Clinic’s Head Sister went on to explain that many breast cancer symptoms are invisible and not noticeable without a professional screening, and he added that some symptoms can be caught early just by being proactive. She encouraged the public to visit the Well Woman Clinic to do their screening and get more awareness about breast cancer.
Kultumi Minah, Africell Cooperate Sale Manager, applauded the screening exercise and thanked Africell for providing the service for all staff including herself. She explained that the experience was good and that she felt safe after knowing her status.
Patricia Jangah, Africell’s Human Resource Manager, pointed out that Africell decided to do the free screening exercise for staff to know their status as this will put them in a position to know what next to do. She stated that Africell cared about their staff and that that’s why they collaborate with Well Woman Clinic to conduct the free screening exercise. Madam Jangah added that not only the female staffers would undergo the screening, but the male staffers will also go through the exercise.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumours develop in the breast. These cells can spread by breaking away from the original tumour and entering blood vessels or lymph vessels, which branch into tissues throughout the body. When cancer cells travel to other parts of the body and begin damaging other tissues and organs, the process is called metastasis.
Breast cancer can be diagnosed through multiple tests, including a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy.
In general, there are five treatment options, and most treatment plans include a combination of the following: surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. Some are local, targeting just the area around the tumour. Others are systemic, targeting your whole body with cancer-fighting agents.
