SCAF, YCFAC breast cancer awareness in progress

By Pa Modou Cham

 Sainey’s Cancer Foundation (SCAF) in collaboration with Your Change for a Change (YCFAC)are celebrates world cancer day by raising awareness of people, in protecting them from the deathly disease.

These were revealed at a press conferences held at the Yaws Fashion Shop in Brusubi, alongside Brufut highway.

Ya Awa Conateh of SCAF explained that SCAF was an inspiration from her sister who passed away in 2016 from breast cancer. “SCAF is given love to support and raise awareness in cancer and the reason being is that we come to realised that a lot of women in the Gambia die in daily basis, which we should make an awareness because lot of us are victims”.

She thanked the sponsors for believing what they are doing, saying SCAF started partnering for ‘Your Change for a Change last year.

Doctor kitabou Jammeh a medical doctor at Edward franchise Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) said the reality about cancer is, went we are in our home we don’t know what is going on in our side unless the family members and friends have cancer, saying thatis the time we start to check. “Every Thursday there is breast cleaning and women with breast condition come to the breast clinic and they are examined, evaluated and some are found to have cancer,” he said.

He highlighted that they have seen rise in the issue of breast cancer. He added “with regard to breast cancer it’s a condition of which abnormal group of the breast tissue. There are stages of breast cancer which goes up to four. The challenge we have in the Gambia is late present of patients. In my research I realized that late presentation happen to be a common future in our sub region”.

“We are not that educated about breast cancer and this is the greatest challenge we have now, going from education to awareness. The only treatment of the cancer is surgery and the Fullas are having the largest record in cancer disease, flowed by the Jola tribe. In our register for those with cancers, 28.6% of the woman was all nulliparous, about 30% never have children and 46.4% have less than 3 children”.

Doctor Modou Bella Jallow, the country director for the organization ‘Your Change for a Change’ reiterated that the organization was founded in 2007 by Gambians who are in abroad and have the heart to give back to their country. he said they decided to start with health but they now gone beyond that. “What we realise in The Gambia thatt many are doing the same thing, which I believe we can come together and make it stronger.”

He explained that breast cancer is the leading deathly cancer and it’s a risk factor.”

He said during the month, they will be raising awareness to Gambians, adding that government cannot do it alone. "We are working to complement government efforts in fighting against breast cancer.