Men face risk of dying from breast cancer, contrary to common opinion
As for women breast cancer cases, the medic noted, 45 per cent of African females aged below 45 years are diagnosed with breast cancer compared to 5 to 10 per cent of their peers in Europe and the US
A symposium on breast treatment comprising medical experts from across the country has identified breast cancer for men as a growing concern since most of them shy away from being tested.
The precision treatment conference for doctors is taking place at the Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) as the world marks the breast cancer awareness month.
“Sadly what we see in the clinics is that most men are coming very late for testing treatment because they are shy and are afraid of the stigma. They don’t seek help early, making the disease management very challenging,” said Dr Abeid Athman, head of oncology department at KUTRRH.
“Our message to men out there is to examine your breasts because anyone with breast glands can get breast cancer and it is still manageable and curable,” he added.
However, the oncologist said the prevalence is still low for men at 1 percent nationally, while at KUTRRH, it is quite high at 5 percent which is higher than the global standards, an incidence he attributed to cases referred there from other medical facilities.
As for women breast cancer cases, the medic noted, 45 per cent of African females aged below 45 years are diagnosed with breast cancer compared to 5 to 10 per cent of their peers in Europe and the US.
According to the medical experts attending the symposium, breast cancer for men, just like women, is treatable when diagnosed early and may not necessarily lead to death.
Prof Daniel Ojuka, a breast surgeon and associate professor at University of Nairobi attributed the rise in breast cancer cases to lifestyles like smoking and consumption of alcohol
“Alcohol consumption is a risk factor as well as smoking. For every unit of alcohol consumed the chances of getting breast cancer is between 1 and 7 percent whereas smoking interferes with the endocrine system in the body or the estrogens which increases chances of getting the disease,” Prof Ojuka explained.
However, he pointed out that whereas the majority of new cancer cases are genetic, changes in lifestyles can help minimise the risk, including early detection or testing, diet and physical exercises.
The hospital chief executive officer Dr Zainab Gura who officially opened the three-day conference said the occasion offers specialists a chance to discuss the cutting edge technology and innovations in treatment and management of breast cancer which is the leading form of cancers in Kenya.
She observed that most of the patients die because of late diagnosis and emphasized the need for awareness creation and early testing
Dr Gura also explained that while breast cancer treatment is covered by the Social Health Authority the facility will be offering free screening, mammography tests and biopsy for women as part of the breast cancer awareness activities.
“The cost of treatment of breast cancer is usually low when detected early. We are appealing to Kenyans go for screening even when they are not sick,” she stated while stressing the need to observe healthy living practices.
