Breast cancer is becoming one of the silent killers in Cameroon, killing 2,285 women yearly. Also there are 4,207 new cases recorded every year, according to the Cameroon Society of Senology (SOCASEIN).
Oncologists in the country are urging for improved management of the disease. They are asking women to take early diagnoses, shun societal myths and followup treatment prescriptions.
Prof Julius Dohbit, a gynaecologist and obstetrician at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetrics and Paediatric Hospital, says the figures are “quite alarming” and that many women die without reaching the hospital as they either give in to “charlatans” who deceive them with ineffective medications.
He was speaking to journalists in Yaoundé recently ahead of the SOCASEIN congress on breast cancer, holding from March 20 to 21.
“…the patients don’t get to health facilities for treatment—though the few that get to health facilities have the challenges of financial access to care; they also this challenge of wrong information. If diagnosed with cancer, they delay taking treatment because they are distracted by charlatans, spiritual healers and all that, and if they finally get to the real centres for treatment at a very advanced stage of the disease,” said Prof Julius Dohbit.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours. If left unchecked, the tumours can spread throughout the body and become fatal.
It typically affects women age 50 and older, but it can also affect men, as well as younger women.
The disease is a threat not only to women in Cameroon, but to the world at large. Breast cancer killed 670,000 women globally in 2022 and infected over 2 million others, according to the World Health Organisation.
Being a relatively newer illness in Cameroon, breast cancer awareness remains low. This is coupled with financial constraints to treatment, as most patients are limited by poverty.
Prof Dohbit also complained about the lack of proper diagnostic equipment at most hospitals in the country.
“We need proper equipment; we need proper diagnostic methods. In terms of competencies, we have the human resources quite qualified, who are not yet overwhelmed…,” he said.
His statement suggests a need for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure in Cameroon.
