Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness
Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) participated at the breast cancer awareness celebration to support the office of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa through Angel of Hope Foundation. The Angel of Hope Foundation offered free breast cancer and cervical cancer screening to multitude of women at Hopley Clinic.
By Tafadzwa Matangira (Student Intern – University of Zimbabwe)
ZNFPC joined hands with the Population Services Zimbabwe on the 21st of October 2022 as they held the, ‘Colour Run for Life’ at Tariro youth centre in Hopely. The event was a combined commemoration of the world breast cancer and international day of the girl child. Health institutions offered free family planning and reproductive health services.
Breast Cancer is a disease caused by abnormal cell development. There are different kinds of breast cancer and they depend on which cells in the breast turn into cancer. The symptoms of cancer differ with a person but there are common ones that include new lump in the breast or under arm, thickening or swelling of part of the breast and any other nipple discharge other than breast milk.
The world health organization has made breast cancer awareness in October where people are given free screening of breast cancer including males and females. This awareness was made due to the increase in prevalence of breast cancer cases although there are other types of cancers. In Zimbabwe we have the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe that helps other organizations in bringing up cancer awareness. Breast cancer awareness is done through awareness programmes, seminars, discussions, exhibitions, use of media and counseling.
Breast cancer awareness is important because it helps people from different background to know their status of breast cancer and help to detect early the tumor so that it can be cured before it spread the whole body.