Intervention
Early detection of breast cancer plays an important role in reducing its morbidity and mortality. Breast Self-Examination, mammography and clinical breast examination are considered best screening methods for early detection of breast cancer (3 ).
Early diagnosis is an important early detection strategy, especially in low and middle income countries where the disease is diagnosed in late stages and resources are limited. There is some evidence that this strategy can produce ‘down staging’ of the disease to stages that are responsive to curative treatment (21)
Control of specific modifiable breast cancer risk factors includes the promotion of a healthy diet, physical activity, limiting alcohol intake, and reducing obesity. Smith et al emphasise the importance of reducing social and cultural barriers to receiving care in order to implement early detection programmes in limited resources countries in the long term (19)
Introducing breast cancer awareness health promotion programs in Kenya will:
Improve breast cancer awareness especially among young Kenyan women.
Reduce the financial burden on individuals and the country as a whole - immediate and adequate treatment is mainly found in expensive private hospitals.
Reduce mortality rate among women especially younger women (In Kenya, the emergence of breast cancer and later development of cancer tends to be aggressive in young women, compared with breast cancer progression in older women(2). Young women aged 20-29 years old with breast cancer experienced mortality rate of 72.4% from the disease. The high mortality rate among young women can be attributed to lack of breast cancer awareness (2).
A successful intervention can be done through education in the community like schools, churches, healthcare centres, especially in remote rural areas. Survivor support groups are good advocates of the importance of early screening and diagnosis, also showing that the disease is treatable.
The best method for early detection of breast cancer is mammogram screening.
Limitation of this intervention is caused by lack of resources - there are limited mammogram screening centres in the Kenya.
Early diagnosis is an important early detection strategy, especially in low and middle income countries where the disease is diagnosed in late stages and resources are limited. There is some evidence that this strategy can produce ‘down staging’ of the disease to stages that are responsive to curative treatment (21)
Control of specific modifiable breast cancer risk factors includes the promotion of a healthy diet, physical activity, limiting alcohol intake, and reducing obesity. Smith et al emphasise the importance of reducing social and cultural barriers to receiving care in order to implement early detection programmes in limited resources countries in the long term (19)
Introducing breast cancer awareness health promotion programs in Kenya will:
Improve breast cancer awareness especially among young Kenyan women.
Reduce the financial burden on individuals and the country as a whole - immediate and adequate treatment is mainly found in expensive private hospitals.
Reduce mortality rate among women especially younger women (In Kenya, the emergence of breast cancer and later development of cancer tends to be aggressive in young women, compared with breast cancer progression in older women(2). Young women aged 20-29 years old with breast cancer experienced mortality rate of 72.4% from the disease. The high mortality rate among young women can be attributed to lack of breast cancer awareness (2).
A successful intervention can be done through education in the community like schools, churches, healthcare centres, especially in remote rural areas. Survivor support groups are good advocates of the importance of early screening and diagnosis, also showing that the disease is treatable.
The best method for early detection of breast cancer is mammogram screening.
Limitation of this intervention is caused by lack of resources - there are limited mammogram screening centres in the Kenya.