By Mandisa Dlamini (HST Communications Assistant)
Breast cancer is a major health issue affecting many people world-wide.
World Prevalence and Mortality
According World Health Organization (WHO) data, breast cancer was diagnosed in over 2.3 million women, and resulted in the deaths of 670 000 women globally in 2022.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and accounts for one in eight cancer cases. It exceeded other harmful conditions; with 2.26 million new cases in 2020, breast cancer became the leading cancer type surpassing other types. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has predicted that there will be more than three million new breast cancer cases every year from 2040, and more than one million breast cancer-related deaths; a 40-50% increase in the number of these deaths.
Risk Factors
According to WHO, breast cancer risk is increased by a number of factors:
Age and Gender: The two main risk factors are being older and being a woman.
Genetic Predisposition: Although many people with breast cancer have no known family history, a family history can increase the risk.
Lifestyle: Obesity, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and postmenopausal hormone therapy are risk factors.
Detection and Prevention of Cancer
Lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, reducing alcohol consumption and quitting smoking are the cornerstones of preventive interventions. The outcomes of treatment have improved significantly, thanks to the early detection via routine screenings like mammograms and ultrasounds. To enhance access to early detection and treatment, the World Health Organization stresses the significance of including breast cancer control within national health programmes.
The 2023 edition of the South African Health Review (SAHR) explores the pressing challenges, successes, and gaps in cancer care within the South African healthcare system. The edition features three articles on breast cancer. They examine the effectiveness of breast cancer policies in South Africa, the factors influencing uptake of breast cancer screening to inform public health interventions, and the advantages of expanding breast cancer genetic counselling services to outreach clinics. In the editorial, Moeti et al. reiterate that "despite well-intentioned guidelines and policies aimed at facilitating and expediting screening, early diagnosis and treatment, significant delays prevail due to logistical and resource constraints. Articles illustrate the necessity of re-evaluating implementation strategies to better align practice with government policy and highlight gaps in policy regarding the needs of vulnerable populations, inequities in access to timely oncology diagnostic and treatment services and particularly medication, service fragmentation, and communication breakdowns."
The National Department of Health (NDoH) introduced the Breast Cancer Prevention and Control Policy (2017) to raise treatment accessibility and advance early diagnosis capabilities while providing awareness support. Breast cancer prevention policy through national departments uses strategic methods to strengthen screening tests, and secure equal treatment access and add palliative care to healthcare delivery. The results of the SAHR assessment show systemic problems regarding financial constraints combined with inadequate healthcare services and insufficient policy enforcement, which negatively affect these implementation measures. The National Department of Health continuously tries to develop infrastructure in the public health sector, along with stakeholder collaboration and resource allocation improvements to ensure the policy delivers meaningful outcomes to breast cancer patients.
Successfully fighting this illness necessitates broad strategies focusing on defensive procedures as well as rapid diagnosis methods and dependable ongoing treatment methodologies.
For more information visit: South African Health Review 2023
The three articles pertaining to breast cancer in the latest edition of the SAHR are:
In paper 9 of the 2023 SAHR, Peresu et al. explore the factors influencing uptake of breast cancer screening. See an overview of their paper here https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=2355776991422372&rdid=sg3nkRjcEsTwbXUU
The urgency of ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in South Africa remains. Botha et al. explore the effectiveness of breast cancer policies in South Africa. View the overview of their paper here https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=500751769608209&rdid=QyXvPzVlKDOJ6WYf