Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru- A breast cancer survivor Juliet Maziriri who resides in Mbizo, Kwekwe recently said there was hope and life in the battle against cancer.
Speaking during a Cool Cakes Company Breast Cancer Sensitization Campaign in Gweru last week, Maziriri said she is a testimony to how early treatment of breast cancer can save life.
“I can testify as a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 but I saw the hand of God. I went through a lot but my family, church members as well as relatives stood with me.
“My case was discovered earlier and this helped me to access treatment sooner than later. I was referred to South Africa for treatment. Though the mammography, radiation and chemotherapy treatments were painful and expensive, I kept my faith in God. If you are a patient, you need to have a positive mind and listen to all advice which these doctors give you.
“On December 27, I am marking 14 years as a survivor, and am grateful. God is there and so is hope in Christ because there is need to get the treatment right and putting your trust in Christ,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, Medical Practitioner and Health Expert Doctor Willard Mushiwokufa said breast cancer was the second deadliest type of cancer behind cervical cancer and called for the need to unite and raise awareness on breast cancer if ever the fight is to be won.
He added that men were also at risk of getting breast cancer.
“Worldwide, we are commemorating breast cancer month and breast cancer is number 2 killer after cervical which is rated as the world deadliest disease in the world.
“However, we have some special groups who are at high risk of contracting breast cancer. These include people who smoke especially men, women between the ages 15-40 going up to 60, anyone who has been a victim of cancer before or whose genealogy has a history of cancer, I advise you to go and get tested if you feel that your breasts are not well.
“I therefore urge mothers who are breast feeding, to at least breast feed up to 1 year 6 months. This helps you reduce high risk of contracting cancer,” he said.
Cool Cakes Bakery director Shamiso Zvidzai expressed gratitude to the company saying it is a dream come true as they had managed to give back to the community.
“We are grateful as an organisation that we managed to give back to our breast cancer survivors. We are giving cakes and food hampers as we hear testimonies which are here to give us and others out there hope.
“We need to give to others this hope and be united in this fight because no one is safe. As Cool Cakes, we have some of the survivors out of these 8 who couldn’t make it to this occasion; we will follow them with their cakes as we continue with our awareness. We want to reach out to cancer patients with the word of hope, together we can beat cancer,” she said.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October is a time to come together to raise awareness; promote education, screening, and early detection; raise money, honour the fallen, and support patients and survivors.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s 2019 /20 report on cancer assessment, out of 2 062 recorded cancer-related deaths so far in Zimbabwe, breast cancer has been responsible for 7 percent of the fatalities, with cervical cancer being the highest killer accounting for 13 percent cancer deaths in the country.
Meanwhile latest findings by scientists revealed that about 1 500 women succumb to cervical cancer while over 1 000 fall prey to breast cancer each year.
