Almost everyone in the world is touched directly, or indirectly by cancer. October is breast cancer awareness month. Various organisations both private and public go into high gear and organise activities and events in order to create more awareness about the disease - which can prove fatal if not detected and treated.
As we do every year, The Malta Independent will support Pinktober and give coverage to activities that help raise awareness. We will also feature informative and educational articles as well as personal stories told by sufferers and survivors.
Malta has one of the highest breast cancer rates in Europe and Eurostat figures released in 2009 show that 34.4 out of 100,000 people develop the disease. This is compared to an EU average of 23.1 per 100,000 people.
Since then, Malta has introduced a breast screening programme for women aged between 50 and 60 - those who are most at risk. Figures released since then showed a marked improvement in screening rates and survival rates and the authorities stepped up the campaign.
In fact, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne recently pointed out that every week, the National Centre for Monitoring Cancer sends out 300 invitations to women for free mammograms. Some 60% accept and so far, the monitoring system has identified 200 cases.
Like with all cancers, the most important thing is early detection and treatment. Women should regularly examine their breasts to feel for lumps and look for sores. Mammograms and ultrasounds are also a very important in detecting the disease to find lumps that might not be felt with a naked hand.
Husbands, boyfriends and partners also need to get involved and tell their significant other that they might have noticed a difference in texture or the rise of a lump. People should not be lulled into the false sense of security that they are too young to develop the disease. It can happen to anyone at any time and it is only by checking, checking and checking again, that one can be assured they are clear.
Too many women have died because of lack of awareness. They were mothers, daughters, sisters and friends. Tragically, lives have been lost. But through the new screening methods, there has been improvement and more lives are being saved every year.
Cancer is always a terrible disease, but the shame is magnified when it is a treatable. This is why all the Breast Cancer Organisations, the Health Department, the government, the media, and most of all, the survivors must do what they can to propagate the message that people need to be aware of the risk that is in our midst.