The Ministry of Health is this year commemorating Breast Cancer Day (October 22 - 24) with a series of activities highlighting the importance of early detection of breast cancer.

The activities, to be held in the districts' health centres, will aim at educating women on breast self-examination, signs of breast cancer, ways to reduce breast cancer risk factors and services available for the detection and treatment of breast cancer. 

Members of the public are being encouraged to participate in these activities.

Considered as an epidemic among women, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths of women aged 40 to 55. The increase of breast cancer is very low in women in their 20s, but gradually increases at the age of 45.

According to local statistics, breast cancer deaths in Seychelles are more common in women aged 65 to 74 years, with a cumulative total of 18 cases from 1994 to 2002. However, breast cancer is not exclusively a disease of women, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health.  In 1998, there was 1 male in the age group 65-74 who died with breast cancer in Seychelles.

Figures also reveal a remarkable increase in the number of breast cancer cases over the years, from 11 in 1995 to 20 in 2001, a trend which proves that still much needs to be done to increase awareness of breast cancer issues, more specifically the importance of regular breast self-examinations to detect abnormal changes of the breast, and avoidance of controllable breast cancer risk factors such as lack of exercise, high fat diet, smoking, alcohol abuse, prolong use of contraceptive pill and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).   

Although mammograms are effective at detecting breast cancer before they are felt, a small percentage of breast cancers cannot be identified through mammography and therefore women should practice breast self-examination regularly, the spokesperson said.

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