Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Paidamoyo Chipunza
11 November 2009
Harare — PEOPLE diagnosed of breast cancer should be specialists of their own condition to enable them to cope with the disease, a cancer survivor has said.
Chronicling how she had managed to stay alive and healthy for the past 24 years, Mrs Johan Mahomed said negative attitudes and poor diet affected the well-being of most cancer patients.
"I became a specialist of my own condition. I ate a low-fat diet with lots of vitamins, fruits and vegetables. I learnt that with breast cancer, one needs to be positive," she said.
Mrs Mahomed said there were various treatments for breast cancer including hormone therapy, chemotherapy, surgery and targeted therapy with treatment depending on the severity of the cancer.
According to the Cancer Centre, a high dietary sugar intake, refined products such as biscuits, cake, soft drink, skimmed milk and fatty foods, increase the risk of breast cancer.
Statistics indicate that breast cancer affects one in every 10 women.
Contrary to the assumption that men are immune to breast cancer, statistics further indicate that one in every 100 men contracts the disease.
"Thousands succumb to the disease annually, yet unlike most types of cancers, breast cancer is fully curable if detected early. Since men have less breast tissue than women, the cancer spreads faster in women," said Mrs Shinga Dakwa of the Cancer Centre.
She said breast cancer was more common in women than men because of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone and breast tissues which they have in huge volumes.
Men possess a small amount of non-functioning breast tissue (breast tissue that cannot produce milk) that is concentrated in the area directly behind the nipple on the chest wall.
Cancer stems from uncontrolled growth of cells.
"Breast cancer in men is usually found later than in women because it is not screened for since it is rare. Upon diagnosis, it usually requires a mastectomy, which is removal of the nipple and breast tissue," specialist Dr Anna Mary Nyakabau said.
The common type of breast cancer found in men is the infiltrating ductal carcinoma, which is a cancer that spreads beyond the cells lining ducts in the breast.
Other types include inflammatory breast cancer where breasts become red and swollen and feel warm.
Most cases of male breast cancer are detected in men aged between 60 and 70, although the condition can develop in men of any age.
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