One very pertinent health issue is Breast Cancer and as a sequel to our earlier post there-is-can-in-cancer, we can talk a bit about mammography as a useful tool for its early detection and #EndTheConfusion most of our women have about it.
Mammography is the main test used to find breast cancer in women who do not have symptoms and is the only screening test that has shown to reduce the number of women who die from breast cancer by about 30%. 👉You may enjoy this clip
Before mammography became a screening tool, about half of women with breast cancer died of the disease.
Mammography uses low-dose X-rays to take pictures (shadows) of the breast. Cancers, in lay terms, are usually seen as either bright dots or as masses that are denser or whiter than the normal breast tissue.
One doesn't need to experience a painful breast or feel a lump before considering a mammogram.It's recommended that Every woman above 40 years of age have a Screening mammogram done at least, every year.
This however, does not replace the fact that every woman should continue the habit of breast self awareness (Daily breast check). That in itself, is a life-saver and to add, it's at no cost.
One of the major drawbacks with having a screening mammogram is the high cost, especially for women in the middle and low income class. Present day Radiodiagnostic departments in Nigeria charge a fee up to the amount of NGN 15,000-20,000 for this, and even higher in bigger cities.
Speaking with the head of department of Radiology here at the Irrua specialist teaching hospital,Dr Elohor Ejakpovi confirms that the hospital has very affordable mammography service subsidized by the MTN FOUNDATION in a synergy to reducing the financial and social burden on women in our subserving communities.
According to her, Mammography can be carried out for as cheap as NGN 3,000 at ISTH. Wow! Over 80% subsidized.This is massive. A rare gift.
While thanking the hospital management for sustaining this collaboration over the past years, she enjoins everyone of us (readers of this post) to help share the GOOD NEWS and encourage our mothers and sisters to avail themselves of the opportunity.
From the desk of the association of resident doctors here in ISTH, as we join the world in celebrating the #InternationalWomensDay, we urge every woman above 40 years of age to talk to her doctors about breast cancer screening before leaving the consulting room irrespective of whatever ailments brought her to the hospital.
To get this good news far and wide, we would appreciate you,reading this post to #RaiseYourHand and #StandUpForWomen by sharing this on your various social media platforms.
our voice is our action.
#ArdIsth cares about our mothers and sisters. Let's help them stay healthy.
For more information, contact the ISTH secretariat of the association of resident doctors via our website http://www.ardisth.org/contact-us/ or send us a message on the comment section below. We are always willing to help you make informed decisions about your health.
