It is sad comforting friends each year around their dying mothers, some crying and some just sitting there looking gloom...
I always wonder why people
always get so worried about what other say about them. Last year (2013), I
visited twelve women in the hospital who were at stage 3/4 of Breast Cancer in
Nigeria.
Unfortunately none of them survived and all were married with kids. It
is sad comforting husbands and their kids each year
around thier dying mothers, some crying and some just sitting there looking gloom.
Having Counselled so many
women, it is really disturbing that amongst the factors leading to the high
rate of mortalities caused by breast cancer in Africa, it is the ‘fear’ of
telling anyone that is the highest. Most women here in Africa are shy or afraid
of speaking out to anyone about any changes in their breast
There is this fear of people
laughing at them and most of all their partners not finding them sexually attractive
anymore. The fear that their partners would no longer want them and seek
pleasures somewhere else is really a challenge. I feel for these women, as
there is an element of truth in their fears, but it also depends on the
partner. Developing Breast Cancer, “Is an abnormality that being no fault of
yours’
Your partner may just be in
as much astonishment as you would be when he hears the diagnosis. He may not
have enough information and understanding about what’s happening in your body,
nor be as emotional as the woman, but some fear surely creeps in. Maybe he is
confused as to how to deal with the forthcoming issues. There is this fear of
dying.
It is crucial that you share
your changes with your partner as soon as you notice anything. This makes it
easier on him; also try to encourage him by asking him to check the breast each
month (3 days) after the period for you. This would make it easier to talk
about together.
Do not allow the negative
talks or gossips of your friends stop you from living. Choose life. These same
friends would be the same people who would come to the funeral of the dead
woman. I can just hear them saying, “Why did she not speak out on time?” yeap,
while eating the free rice and drinking the free drinks. Sad.
Last year while we were working
in some rural part of Africa, some women were shy to come out for our free
breast screening, for they said that it was women who were “unfaithful” that
developed breast cancer. Funny, but this
is what they truly believe. Many women think this way in Africa and we just
need to continue preaching the early detection message and keep getting more
rural women checked and referred.
Please check your ARMPITS
and BREAST for lumps now and even if you don’t find anything, let your partner
be aware of what you are doing by getting him involved. Do it together.
Continue to follow our messages on TWITTER @CancelCancerAf our Subscribe to our
Youtube Channel. Share it to your friends and you could be helping to save one life.
Join us this September in
Kenya, for another Breast cancer Awareness Program,
Thank you.
Ronnie J.
