The Samoa Cancer Society has begun its annual Cancer awareness month preparations ahead of Pinktober next month.
The Executive officer of the Samoa Cancer Society Shelley Burich says the month of October and the emphasis it puts on Cancer Awareness is the best way to educate the people of Samoa on ways to help fight breast cancer.
“We need to really increase our outreach in trainings and workshops in raising the importance of fighting breast cancer,” she said.
“Mainly because breast cancer is still one of the highest cancer diseases here for our women. So it’s really important for us to continue with our message and out outreach to get people to understand the importance of early detection, seeking medical advice early,” she added.
Burich says that while they do not have the official stats, the Samoa Cancer Society sees an increase with patients diagnosed with breast cancer from those who have registered with them.
“There is an increase, but we believe that this increase is because of the work that we do with our outreach and now people are starting to come to the hospital which is good. It means our message is working they’re starting to come into the hospital,” she added.
At least that is what she hopes. Burich adds that the total stats of people diagnosed with cancer is unknown, so the increase in the numbers of those with the illness hopefully is because of the awareness working other than an actual increase in cancer patients.
“If you want to know the best way to beat cancer it’s all about what we put into our bodies, it’s eating healthy, eat organic, and exercise. We encourage people to consider the risks and going with the message of understanding the risk factors,” she said.
The month of October is one known for its pink emphasis through various occasions and mostly in Sports events. Hence, the declaration by Rugby league Samoa President Faafouina Talagoa Sua that the match officials during the Toa Samoa and Fiji Bati international Pacific Test match will be wearing pink uniforms in support of the fight against cancer.
Photo: Samoa Cancer Society. Outreach programme