Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Monday, 4 November 2013 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Held at the Ivy Room, the guest speakers were Dr. Indrani Amarasinghe (Former Senior Oncological Surgeon, National Cancer Institute, Maharagama), Dr. Paranagama (Director, National Cancer Control Program), Dr. Varuni Bandara (Senior Registrar in community medicine, National Cancer Control Programme) and Prof. Ryhana Raheem, Mala Thalayasingam and Sharona Naizer (Mithuruwela Cancer Support Network).
Prevention and early detection
The session focused on creating awareness on prevention and early detection. The speakers elaborated on how to identify symptoms and detect breast cancer at an early stage including performing self- examinations. They also discussed what can be done to avoid, control and treat the condition. Survivors such as Mala Thalayasingam and Prof. Raheemshared their personal experiences in spreading a message of courage and hope.
While Dr. Paranagama revealed statistics related to breast cancer in Sri Lanka and the treatments meted out to them by the National Cancer Control Program, Dr. Amarasinghe elaborated and explained the symptoms and necessary actions to be taken upon detection.
She noted being female, family history of cancer, early menses, late menopause and nullipara (not giving birth) as some of the main reasons for the condition. She warned the audience to be vigilant of their own bodies and never ignore any of the symptoms. While the timeframe for the cancer to surface can take seven years, she advised females to be cautious of a lump or mass in the breast or near the arm pits, nipple discharge, mastalgia ( breast pain) and nipple lesion. Should anyof these signals occur, a visit to the doctors is a must, she stated.
Prevention is better
than cure
While not all mastalgia is dangerous, turning to a diagnostic tool such as a clinical examination, mammogram or as the last resort a fine needle test, is always advisable as prevention is better than cure. The earliest detectable stage for a malignant microcal through a mammogram is two years before the cancer surfaces. Regular checks can therefore be lifesaving. Thereby females over the age of 50 should do mammograms annually while those with a family history of breast cancer should do so after the age of 35.
Mala Thalayasingam shared a very personal tale of when she was declared to have only 6 months to live, 15 years ago. With a hopeful message of ‘beating cancer,’ she spoke through experience that “the human spirit is greater than any cancer” and “sometimes it takes a life threatening experience to value life itself.” She reiterated that friendship and support is a great source of strength that helps you overcome and survive the condition.
Self-examinations
Dr. Bandara meanwhile took the audience on a step by step explanation of how to conduct self-examinations, which must be done monthly. Using the palm of your hand, and not your fingertips, the examination must be done cyclically every month, preferably a week after menstruation. She warned to look out for skin, colour or shape changes as well as asymmetry or lumps. The core message of the seminar, as emphasised by all speakers was, be sensitive to your own breasts and if any suspicious symptoms are detected, do not delay in seeing a doctor and carrying out medical tests. Breast cancer is not a death notice and is fully treatable, if detected in time. The seminar was organised by the Grand’s Marketing Communications and Sustainability Department and supported by Green Team champion Deepika Satyapala, who handed over the funds collected in sales of pink ribbons at the hotel, to the Mithuruwela cancer support fund.
