Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre honours October as Breast Health Awareness Month. Breast Cancer still claims the title as the number one diagnosed cancer in women in Bermuda. Look at your mother and daughters, your friends and neighbours: the jarring truth is that 1 in 8 of those women will hear the words, “you have breast cancer” in their lifetime.
“According to the Bermuda National Tumour Registry, over the past 3 years, we’ve seen 217 reported cases on the island, with almost 70% impacting black women,” shares Azuree Williams, certified Lemonista and Event and Programme Manager, Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. “And while breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in Bermuda, the encouraging fact is that there are more treatment options and a better chance for survival when breast cancer is found early.”
Per the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rate for women with stage 0 or stage I breast cancer is close to 100%. For women with stage II breast cancer, the 5-year relative survival rate is about 93%. Predominately an antagonist to women, many people are surprised to learn that breast cancer can also affect 1% of males here in Bermuda.
The prevalence of breast cancer in our community paired with the positive outcomes when caught early is why Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre is a Global Education Partner with the Know Your Lemons Foundation. Through this partnership, the Centre works to improve early detection for breast cancer through innovative and empowering education using fun and colourful ways to help break through the barriers of fear, cost and understanding. A free programme, Know Your Lemons presentations are available to the community and cover everything from risk factors for breast cancer, the 12 symptoms of breast cancer and life-saving tools for early detection.
“At Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, we know that early detection is essential to more than survival, but also to the quality of life, minimising the cost and invasiveness of treatment when found at later stages,” continues Ms Williams. “Based on the local population, our Centre recommends that women at average breast cancer risk begin screening at age 40. Women and men can take precautionary action by consulting with their doctors about what they can do to lower their risk factors and learning about what tests are right for them.”
As a not-for-profit, Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre works to remove barriers that may prevent people from seeking scientifically-based information, early detection and treatment for cancer. This is where raising funds to support the Centre is vitally important. By fundraising or making a donation, you help the Centre to provide FREE breast health education, the Know Your Lemons programme, and subsidise the cost of mammograms, biopsies and radiation therapy for those who may defer care because they cannot afford it. The Centre needs your help to raise $200,000 during breast health awareness month. 100% of donations will be applied to our Equal Access Fund and FREE breast health education through our "Know Your Lemons" programme.
There are many ways to get involved this month to support the Centre and raise funds for breast health awareness:
Let’s make a Splash, not a ripple and stomp out breast cancer! Together we can work to overcome this disease!
