Nakuru County has unveiled a men’s breast cancer awareness campaign to get more men tested for early diagnosis and treatment and fight the stigma surrounding the illness.
Speaking when she hosted the GTB Scan Lab, Nakuru County Health Executive Committee Member (CECM) Ms Jacqueline Osoro said that though breast cancer is mainly connected to women, who are also more at risk due to hormonal fluctuations, men are also increasingly becoming vulnerable to the disease.
However, she said that although breast cancer in men is rare, men should be aware of common symptoms like lumps, discharge, and skin discolouration around the breast area.
Further, she said Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October was another chance to enhance breast cancer awareness among men.
She also noted that breast cancer is the leading cause of morbidity among women, hence the need to create awareness of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
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She said the county government is committed to creating awareness and improving support and cancer screening for residents across the devolved unit.
“Breast Cancer Awareness Month will also serve as an opportunity to encourage men to undergo prostate screening, as prostate cancer also poses a great threat to them,” she said.
According to the World Health Organisation, early detection remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control.
WHO states that early detection methods like clinical and self-breast examinations plus breast awareness are used as the main strategy for controlling cancer.
But while these strategies have immensely contributed to reducing mortality rates among female patients, in men, this could be a challenge as breast screening for men is not recommended routinely due to the low incidence.
Official health data shows that one in every eight women is likely to have breast cancer, and one in every 100 men has breast cancer, which indicates that the disease is rare in men but still affects some.
