Here we are! This October 1 marks the start of the cancer awareness campaign, called Pink October in Senegal and throughout the world. The president of the Senegalese League Against Cancers (LISCA), Dr Fatma Guenoune, revealed the staggering figures for cases of gynecological cancer in Senegal.
“Every year, there are more than 12,000 new cases of cancer in Senegal with around 8,000 deaths. Regarding breast cancer, there are 1,838 new cases each year with 976 deaths. But breast cancer is the second cancer after that of the cervix with 2,024 and 1,312 deaths In Senegal, all sexes combined, gynecological cancers are the first cancers”, informs Dr Guenoune who is raising women’s awareness of early detection.
Thus, she continues, “breast cancer screening involves mammography, it is the mammographic examination of the breasts which allows us to see very small tumors that are not palpated by hand. So I ask all women aged 40 to have a mammogram every two years. This at least allows them to look at the images and see if there are any small tumors. And then, we also ask women from the age of 20. because there are very young cancers currently in Senegal to do breast self-examination.
The president of LISCA recommends awareness campaigns to teach women how to self-examine. “That’s why during our awareness campaigns, we teach young girls and women how to do a breast self-exam. From the age of 20, after their period, every month, women must be able to do a self-examination. -breast examination. At menopause, women choose a day for this breast self-examination.
In Senegal, cancer treatment is very expensive for patients, and the capital, Dakar, concentrates more patients, most of whom come from other regions of Senegal. Hospitality is often lacking for patients who have to undergo radiotherapy sessions. On this, the president of Lisca announces the acquisition of land which will be “the house of life” which will house patients, during treatment in a health structure.
“We were able to obtain from the State, a plot of land of 500 m² and we have our partner DP World, we are waiting to obtain the lease to begin the work. The land is located on the Yeumbeul-Malika strip. There , we are going to build the life center. You know, people come from other regions, because it is only in Dakar and Touba where there is a radiotherapy machine. To do radiotherapy, the patient must come every day. days in the hospital, those who do not have a host family or who cannot afford to rent a room are forced to sleep in the hospital corridors. This hurts us and fortunately we do. has this land and we have a partner to build it, but other means are needed for real estate and other means to feed these patients who will be housed in this nursing home”, says Dr Guenoune who is asking for help other partners for the production of this work.
