Breast cancer: in Dakar, the screening campaign resumes in a complicated health context
Women wait for a free breast cancer screening consultation in front of the Senegalese League against Cancer (LISCA) headquarters on October 8 in the Sacré Coeur district of Dakar.
RFI / Théa Ollivier
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
“Pink October” is the month of the campaign against breast cancer, the first cancer that is rampant in Senegal.
As every year, the Senegalese League against cancer organizes free consultations in Dakar for the early detection of breast cancer.
By the first week, more than 1,000 women walked past the volunteer doctors.
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With our correspondent in Dakar
, Théa Ollivier
In front of a medical truck, a dozen women are seated in a tent, the chairs well spaced from each other.
Khady Gueye, 24, is waiting his turn to benefit from the free
breast cancer screening
consultation
.
“
I knew a friend who was in no pain and yet when she was screened she had stage 2 cancer,
” she explains
.
So that scared me a little.
My family has never had cancer, but since my breasts are a bit large, I am not very reassured.
"
90% cure
This year, the screening campaign is spread over the entire month of October and not over a few days in order to avoid gatherings and the spread of the coronavirus.
Every day, 150 patients are examined by two doctors, including Damien Konkobo.
"
We take the opportunity to raise awareness,"
says the latter, "
so that they pass the baton on to the family, to those around them, and to try to convince other women, too, to come for screening.
They are shown how to self-examine the breasts, which is very important.
"
About 10% of screened women will have a mammogram after detecting an abnormality.
A free service supported by the Senegalese League against cancer, explains its president Fatma Guénoune: “
We must allow these women to be screened.
There are not many women who can afford to take care of themselves medically.
And that is a tragedy in Senegal.
"
Early detection leads to lower mortality, with cancer curing in 90% of cases.
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