Innovative ideas needed to fight breast cancer

New and innovative methods are needed in the South African healthcare industry as part of a collective effort to encourage women to visit their doctors for regular check-ups to ensure the early detection of breast cancer.

This is according to Olabode Olajumoke at Aon Hewitt South Africa, who says that while early detection and preventative care is essential in the fight against the disease, there is often a general apathy among consumers towards personal healthcare needs. “It is an unfortunate reality that women are getting breast cancer at a younger and younger age. While medicine has made tremendous advancements, the best defense against breast cancer will always be early detection.

According to statistics from the National Cancer Data Base, the survival rate for stage I breast cancer is 93% over a five year survival rate. This falls to an alarming 15% for stage IV breast cancer.

Olajumoke says South Africa’s medical and healthcare industry has already proven itself to be a leader in innovation by using positive methods to encourage healthier lifestyles. “Some of the biggest medical schemes in South Africa use wellness programmes that reward members for looking after their own health and wellbeing.

“We should be encouraging companies to look at similar initiatives to help encourage and motivate women to visit their doctor for a check-up against breast cancer or a number of other diseases. For example, if one gets 15 000 points per annum for going to the gym, then women should be rewarded with more than the mere 2 500 points per annum for having a breast check. This does not have to be limited to medical schemes – employers or other service providers should align themselves with similar initiatives.

“Preventative action is not only good for the member, who will have a far greater chance of survival if a disease is detected early; but will also be good for the medical scheme as treatment will be far less expensive and for the employer who will have a healthier workforce.”

Olajumoke says that while such initiatives are already working with some success in medical scheme, it is also important to roll-out similar reward schemes among lower income communities who may not be able to afford medical scheme cover.

“It is important with any health awareness initiative that the lower income communities are not marginalized. If these women are forgotten not only are they not able to contribute economically to the country but they may leave behind children that still need to be raised and paid for.

“Theoretically, women from lower income communities could be given a voucher after a check-up to be used in particular stores for certain health-related purchases. However, this needs to be part of a collective effort that works from the grassroots up, with communities and community health centres working together to encourage prevention and check-ups.

“Access to quality healthcare and awareness of treatments on offer should not be dependent on someone’s financial position. Preventative care, which is a cornerstone of Government’s proposal for National Health Insurance, is essential in the fight against any disease,” concludes Olajumoke.

• 9 out of 10 lumps are noticed and found by the woman herself;
• Breast cancer presents as a lump and is usually painless;
• 9 out of 10 breast lumps are not cancer;
• Breast cancer is curable if detected and treated early;
• 1 in 29 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime;
• 4 000 South African women are diagnosed annually;
• More black South African women are diagnosed annually;
• Breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women aged between 40 and 50 years.
• Men also get breast cancer: 1% of population.