United Nations Radio

Cancer control

October was Breast cancer awareness month and Veronica Riemer of World Health Organization looks at how a disease once considered a close companion of affluent societies has moved to the developing world.

RIEMER: According to the latest WHO statistics, cancer causes around 7.9 million deaths worldwide each year. Of these deaths, more than 72% are now occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Among women, breast cancer features as one of the most frequent types of cancer globally. Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization talks about the challenges faced by countries where resources are limited and access to care is further constrained by cultural and social factors.

CHAN: We know that the incidence of breast cancer is increasing in developing countries but we do not fully understand the reason why. We know that the early detection and management of a complex disease like breast cancer, becomes even more difficult in areas characterized by a shortage of data, a shortage of doctors, a shortage of screening services, a shortage of treatment facilities and above all, a shortage of awareness. We need to tackle cultural barriers to care, and tackle the stigma and social isolation that frequently compound the misery of women diagnosed with advised breast cancer.

RIEMER: Thirty years ago, WHO's Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control, Nancy Brinker, lost her only sister to breast cancer. She promised her dying sister, Susan G Komen, she would do everything in her power to combat this disease. In 1982, she established Susan G Komen for the Cure, and launched a global breast cancer movement. She talks about what needs to be done.

BRINKER: There are strategies in place to diagnose chronic disease, diabetes, heart disease, but with cancer, it is particularly important that it is diagnosed as early as possible and in many countries we have no health care systems with the bottom billion or 2 billion people with very low resources. We need to provide ways for them to have opportunities to be diagnosed, to have productive lives, to continue in the case of women to be mothers, to be able to carry their families and their communities into lifestyles and normal life spans.

RIEMER: Today, the Susan G Coleman for the Cure foundation is working to turn millions of breast cancer patients into breast cancer survivors. Patricia Allen, President of the English-speaking Cancer Association, is one of those survivors and believes the more we talk about cancer, the more chance we have to save lives.

ALLEN: I was actually one of the lucky ones. My cancer was detected on a routine mammogram in 2002. Because the cancer was detected at such an early stage, I did not need chemotherapy nor radiotherapy. I had surgery and that was it. So, by all means, the quality of my life is much better (laughter), because it was detected early.

RIEMER: Regular mammograms are the best test doctors have to find breast cancer early. But on a day to day basis, women can help themselves. Patricia tells us how.

ALLEN: My message to women today is for all women, aged 16 and up, be vigilant about breast awareness. To know their breasts, to know how they look, how they feel and certainly to note any changes and get them checked out. Certainly, when you get up into the twenties and thirties, these young women should not only be doing monthly self breast exams, but also going once a year to their gynecologist for a clinical breast exam.

REIMER: Dr Andreas Ullrich is a WHO Medical Officer in the department for cancer control. He talks about reducing cancer risks.

ULLRICH: My advice to women to reduce cancer risks is to have a healthy lifestyle to choose a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables, whole grains and nuts; to keep weight down and to avoid weight gain; to exercise regularly in particular with some brisk physical activity every day; to keep alcohol drinking moderate and certainly please do not smoke.

PRES: That was Dr. Andreas Ullrich speaking to Veronica Riemer for the World Health Organization.

Duration: 4'33"