When we delve into our nation’s history, this month is quite important, especially if we are to discuss development, reflect on what we have come through, and ponder on our future.
But that’s for another day perhaps.
This month is also set aside to highlight a major health concern.
Fiji Cancer Society board member Makrava Wilson highlighted an important point back in 2018 around this time.
Seventy-nine per cent of deaths in the country, he said at the time, were because of non-communicable diseases.
Breast cancer, he said, was the number one killer among women in the country.
This form of cancer, he said, begins in the breast tissue and is the second most common type of cancer, mainly affecting women.
The prognosis for stage 4 breast cancer is not good, he said.
The five-year survival rate was only 16 per cent. Given the high incidence and destructive nature of breast cancer, he pointed out early prevention and treatment of the disease was a high priority.
We are told there are many triggers of cancer like lifestyle habits, eating habits and so on.
We are encouraged to embrace early detection and early treatment.
It goes without saying that there will be sceptics who will fall back on alternative treatment before they eventually end up in hospital.
Early detection must be encouraged and raised as part of the response to fighting cancer.
This is why we firmly believe the message of Pinktober is important. It is never easy to appreciate the sacrifices many people make when someone suffers from cancer.
There are people behind the scenes.
They provide a base for patients.
They are working hard to ease the suffering of patients, and reassuring them and providing comfort for those who are in palliative care.
Having come back from the brink of death, cancer survivors embrace major lifestyle changes.
Added value is placed on family time and being positive can make a difference, they say.
For families, it is a sad experience to see their loved one make the transition from being a lively person to being bed-ridden and very ill.
On a global scale, the objective of the World Health Organization Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI), according to its official website, is to reduce global breast cancer mortality by 2.5% per year, thereby averting 2.5 million breast cancer deaths globally between 2020 and 2040.
Reducing global breast cancer mortality by 2.5% per year, it stated, would avert 25% of breast cancer deaths by 2030 and 40% by 2040 among women under 70 years of age.
It stated the three pillars toward achieving these objectives are: health promotion for early detection; timely diagnosis; and comprehensive breast cancer management.
In saying that, this is a worthwhile campaign that deserves attention and acknowledgement, and The Fiji Times has long been a very strong supporter of Pinktober, the work of the Fiji Cancer Society, and of Walk On Walk Strong Kids Fiji (WOWS). Sometimes we need to be reminded about the resilience of the human spirit, and the beauty of sharing, and of bringing comfort to a fellow human being.
Hope can be a critical factor in fighting the disease.
For all those who make an effort to be a part of this worthy cause, you do make a difference!
It takes courage to give up your time, money, and effort for something like this, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To the patients and their family members, you are heroes.
