By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Oct. 29. (232News) – One of Sierra Leon finest banks, Skye Bank SL Ltd has joined Thinking Pink Breast Cancer Foundation among other partners to observe Pink Friday Health Fair.
This is part of the Bank’s effort to raise awareness in the month of October which is set aside as Breast Cancer Awareness Month said Skye Bank Head, Corporate Affairs, Tarah Majek.
Tarah Majek while thanking the Foundation for their continuous hard work described the relationship as a long term one with them noting that the Bank is very proud of them in making such a move.
Staff in all branches of the Bank was seeing donning pink T-Shirts labeled “Give Hope, Save Lives” as a means of raising breast cancer awareness.
She went on to say the Bank cares not only for their staff and customers but for all women as their health is very important to them.
She encouraged women to always reach out to any Thinking Pink Breast Cancer Foundation clinic for regular checkup as they will continue to raise awareness of cancer in the country.
Thinking Pink Breast Cancer Foundation Founder/CEO Mrs. Cremelda Parkinson Pratt said their awareness campaign this month has been intense and fruitful. They raised awareness in 10 secondary schools nationwide, 5 schools in Freetown Rural and Urban and 5 in the provinces.
October is a Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Thinking Pink Foundation has provided free breast screening for schools among others organizations as part of a move to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.
The screening aims to detect the disease early as early detection saves life and that awareness has saved many lives. The screening helps lot of people to detect if they have a lump in their breast, as that will help them not only to know their status but also how they can take care of their breasts.
According to Thinking Pink Foundation many breast cancer symptoms are invisible and not noticeable without a professional screening, and that some symptoms can be caught early just by being proactive.
Thinking Pink Foundation encouraged the public to visit their centers to do their screening and get more awareness about breast cancer.
Mrs. Pratt went on to say 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 the whole body with cancer-fighting agents.
In October 29th 2021, The Bank was visible at the presentation of a cheque from proceeds towards treatment options for a financially challenged newly diagnosed student (s) to assist with their treatment options.
