HEAD of the Oncology Department at the National Referral Hospital Dr Andrew Soma has reiterated the prevalence of breast cancer in Solomon Islands and the world.
Dr Soma said breast cancer is leading killer in Solomon Islands and the world.
He was speaking at the handing over ceremony of the new mammography machine last week by the Maritime Authority Solomon Islands (SIMA) to the NRH Oncology Unit of the National Referral Hospital.
“Breast cancer is the highest killer in the World and in Solomon Islands.”
Dr Soma said the estimated number of new cases in 2020 worldwide amongst females of all ages was 2, 261, 419 (24.5 percent).
He said in Solomon Islands, the number of new cancer cases in 2020 was 122 (20.1 percent) and of these 38 were breast cancer cases.
Dr Soma said as revealed by Dr Michael Buin’s Study 25.4 percent of deaths in women in Solomon Islands is caused by breast cancer.
With the new mammography machine already installed at NRH, Dr Soma encouraged women to go for checkup if they notice any small lumps in their breast because breast cancer is curable when detected and treated early.
“You must come early and do a check-p if you notice any lump in your breast that does not look normal.
“We can cure cancer in its early stage.”
He added that, “The tricky part of breast cancer is that the lump doesn’t hurt. The lump will just feel normal so women need to checkup to detect breast cancer at an early stage so that it can be cured. The earlier it is detected, the better it will be to cure,” he said.
Dr Soma also encouraged people to do checkup for lung, liver, prostate, thyroid cancer and all forms of cancer.
By LACHLAN EDDIE HOE
Solomon Star, Honiara
