Programs

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Community Outreach

Run For a Cure Africa seeks to dispel myths and stigmas associated with breast cancer. They accomplish this through community outreaches at churches, through local fitness associations, specially developed materials, and providing speaking opportunities of their Pink Fighter Survivors

SCREENING

Breast Screenings

Run For a Cure Africa hosts breast cancer screening exercises in all three countries at no cost to the participants. During several intervals in the year, Run For a Cure Africa collaborates with local hospitals and doctors to provide breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and information.

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Treatment

In 2012, the Pink Fighter’s Club was born. This club was formed to support women who cannot afford to pay for breast cancer treatment and to help these same women and their families shoulder the emotional and psychological burden breast cancer presents in a developing nation.

It was through our close work with our Pink Fighters that we realized an alarming fact. The public hospitals where they go for treatment, sometimes go on strike. When this happens, their treatment also goes on strike. For that reason, Run For a Cure Africa is fighting hard to establish a Pink Fighter’s Clinic where these women can go to receive uninterrupted and focused care.

Breast Health Information

QUICK FACTS

  • Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in Africa.
  • Breast Cancer is 98% treatable if detected early.
  • Nigeria has an 80% breast cancer mortality rate.

According to a study conducted by doctors Adesunkanmi, Lawal, Adelusola, and Durosimi (2005), a majority of their patients in the southern region of Nigeria do not come for treatment until their cancer has reached the advanced stages (stage 3 and 4).

Late stage breast cancer detection in Nigeria and all of Africa is attributed to the negative social stigma of the disease in society, lack of awareness in developing countries, and access to health services (World Health Organization, 2011)

What is Run For a Cure Africa (RFCA) doing about it?

  • FREE SCREENINGS: RFCA offers free mammography screenings throughout the year at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. In addition to this, RFCA will hold free mass screening weekends with the first screening taking place on February 2 and 4. All screenings on these weekends are free of charge.
  • SUBSIDIZED TREATMENT: RFCA will endeavor to financially support women found to have breast cancer by subsidizing or fully covering treatment costs.
  • OUTREACH: RFCA will reach out to the market women, churches, and local associations to increase awareness and dispel societal myths.

If you or someone you know needs help with screening or treatment, contact us at support@runforacureafrica.org.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Modify and avoid risk factors (World Health Organization, 2011)

More than 30% of cancer could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors, including:

  • being overweight or obese
  • low fruit and vegetable intake
  • lack of physical activity
  • alcohol use
  • urban air pollution
  • indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels.

ALSO:

Give yourself a breast exam each month.

http://women.webmd.com/healthtool-self-breast-exam

Get a mammography screening once a year after the age of 40, earlier if you have a higher risk. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks (heredity, environmental, etc.)

Notice the warning signs:

  • Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
  • Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
  • Change in the size or shape of the breast
  • Dimpling or puckering of the skin
  • Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
  • Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
  • Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
  • New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away (Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 2011)