Dr Raymond Billa, Chief Executive Officer of Helen Joseph Hospital;
Ms Carolina Herrera de Baez;
Dr Carol, Benn, Head of the Helen Joseph Breast Clinic;
Patrons and Representatives of the Breast Health Foundation;
Ladies and gentlemen.
The ANC government has always prioritised women’s health. This is evident in the state of the art breast clinic that we built in this hospital. This clinic compares with the best in the world.
Program Director,
Being diagnosed with breast cancer brings fear and trepidation. Frequent visits to doctors and the possibility of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can turn a breast cancer patient’s life upside down. Treatment of breast cancer has a variety of side effects, which includes pain, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, shortness of breath, depression and constipation. It is for this reason that such treatment is accompanied by palliative care.
There is a mistaken notion that palliative care denotes the end stage of the continuum of care. The primary aim of palliative care is to improve the patient’s quality of life. Palliative care can be given regardless of life expectancy. Palliative care can begin as early in a patient's illness as is necessary to control symptoms and improve quality of life.
It is more than just treating physical symptoms. Palliative care also addresses emotional suffering and spiritual care needs. I make this point in order to dispel the notion that those who receive palliative care are on their death bed! This is specialised medical care whose focus is relief of the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness. It is aimed at improving quality of life for both the patient and their family.
When palliative care teams work in partnership with cancer specialists, patients with breast cancer experience reduced symptoms, better communication and psychological and spiritual care; they also have someone to help them plan for the future. Once symptoms are controlled, patients can get back to their daily lives. People with breast cancer are often apprehensive about how to talk to family and friends regarding their condition. They may also have questions and concerns regarding treatment options.
Palliative care teams are highly skilled in communicating with seriously ill patients and their families and can be very helpful in deepening understanding about possible treatment options. Palliative care teams also provide support for families of patients who also experience distress in the face of illness. Feeling supported by palliative care specialists, family members are, in turn, enabled to provide support to their loved ones.
Breast cancer patients have a better chance of improved quality of life at every stage of the illness when they have access to palliative care. It is also important to note that palliative care teams will also require debriefing and effective employee wellness programmes. Caring for breast cancer patients is stress on its own; therefore part of the treatment package should include caring for the palliative care teams.
Breast cancer is the most common among cancers which affect women. Because the breast is a prominent body organ it is easy to examine and any abnormality can be detected before it gives rise to symptoms.
The commonest risk factors are:
- Age over 60 years of age; even though there is an alarming increase in the number of cases of breast cancer, even among women who are less than 35 years old.
- Family history, first degree relative
- Failure to breast feed
- Early first menstruation before the age of 12
- Late first pregnancy when one is already above the age of 30;
- Late menopause , and
- Smoking
Breast cancer can be detected early and then the treatment which is mainly surgical becomes more effective and less destructive. Any abnormalities such as pain, lumps, and nipple discharge need to be taken seriously. We therefore have a responsibility to prevent the incidence of breast cancer. Creating awareness on the importance of breast self- examination to detect breast cancer contributes to our prevention and early detection efforts.If diagnosed early, breast cancer treatment regimens are very successful.
As most of you are aware, the month of October month is designated as World Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Both breast cancer and cervical cancer have been identified as priority conditions by government.
While we value palliative care, we also prioritise prevention and early detection. During the month of October we always emphasise the importance of breast self- examination and visits to breast screening facilities in the management of this condition. While breast cancer affects both men and women, the incidence in men is very much lower than in females. We encourage women to visit our clinics to be examined for possible symptoms of breast cancer. Even though numbers are low, men should also test.
If there is sufficient suspicion after examination, patients are referred to hospitals such as Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke-Johannesburg Academic, Steve Biko Academic, Dr George Mukhari, Kalafong, and Helen Joseph hospitals. These hospitals conduct a test which is called a Mammogram. This is one of the most sensitive and non- invasive ways of detecting breast cancer.
In the 2012/13 financial year we performed 14 753 mammograms for the detection of breast cancer through out Gauteng. At this breast clinic, between 500 and 700 breast cases are treated per month. The age of the patients has ranged from 22 to 96 .It is clear that there appears to be an increase in the number of cases of breast cancer, even among women who are less than 35 years old.
From the statistics gleaned at this breast cancer clinic it is clear that the incidence of breast cancer is increasing. For example, in 2010, 5 254 patients were examined and 346 were referred to theatre. In 2011, 6 765 patients were examined, and 399 were referred to theatre.
In 2012, 8 666 patients were examined and 546 were referred to theatre. This year alone from January until the end of August, 5 631 patients have been examined and 351 have been referred to theatre. These figures clearly show that we need to improve on our efforts to create awareness and prevent breast cancer. Breast cancer patients who present themselves late for detection and treatment risk undergoing treatment which is more disfiguring and radical.
Program Director,
I take this opportunity to encourage partners to assist in examining breasts of their wives or girlfriends because such support is needed if we will reduce the incidence of breast cancer.
As government we value partnership with organizations such as Breast Health Foundation, and individuals such as Carolina Herrera de Baez. Your efforts to provide hope for breast cancer patients and their families are appreciated.We are confident that the Unit we are opening today will provide much needed care to breast cancer patients and hope to their families.
Working together we will break the back of breast cancer!
