Activists advocating for early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer have expressed concern over increasing cases due to late diagnosis fueled by COVID-19 pandemic lock down.
According to the board chairperson of Uganda women's cancer support organization Rebecca Kiziri Mayengo , during lock down ,the Organization could not maintain lifesaving services like awareness, timely screening and referrals, travel for diagnosis and treatment, providing counselling and Palliative Care Services among others.
While addressing the media in Kampala on Tuesday Kiziri noted that over 75% of patients go to hospital when the disease is in the late stages three or four because of lack awareness since cancer is not painful in the early stages.
She made the remarks commemoration of the October Breast Cancer Awareness month 2021
Kiziri add that 30% of deaths from cancer are due to behavioral and dietary risks such as low intake of fruits and vegetables ,consumption of Tobacco and Alcohol among others.
Breast Cancer in Uganda is the 3rd commonest type of cancer with 2,639 new cases and 1,366 death in 2020.
It accounts for 7.8% of all cancers in the Country.
Globally, 2.3 million new cases were registered in 2020 with 685,000 death with 7.8 diagnosed in the past 5 years.
