By Fatou Sillah
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Trust Bank held a breast cancer awareness campaign at its Brusubi Branch on Tuesday. The event featured Dr. Baboucarr A.S. Sowe, from Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, who educated attendees on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, preventive measures, self-examination techniques, the importance of regular screenings, and the value of mammograms.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month has grown significantly in its efforts to raise awareness and funds for research. Over the past few decades, numerous organizations have launched initiatives each October to highlight the fight against breast cancer, increasing public understanding of the disease.
During his presentation at the Trust Bank event, Dr. Sowe discussed the risk factors associated with breast cancer, emphasizing that, while the exact cause is unknown, certain factors increase the likelihood of developing the disease.
“No one can tell you the cause of cancer. However, there are associated risk factors. Meaning there are things that, when they are present, when one is exposed to or one is composed of, it increases the chance of that individual having a particular cancer, and the same thing applies in breast cancer. So we cannot pinpoint and say that this is the cause, but there are recognized risk factors. Among the recognized risk factors for breast cancer, overweight is one of them.
“The other risk factor is people who start seeing their menses very early, less than 12 or before 12 years, and their menses stop coming very late so that they have a long period of exposure to Estrogen hormones, which also increases the risk of breast cancer. Lack of breastfeeding or the breastfeeding is protective, so it is also more recognized among women who have not been breastfeeding,” he said.
Dr. Sowe also highlighted the role of family history, noting that individuals with a family history of breast cancer have a higher incidence of the disease, stating, “Also, a family history, people who have a family history of breast cancer have been observed to have higher incidences of breast cancer. However, he clarified, “That does not mean that if one does not have breast cancer in her family, the person would not have breast cancer. No, in fact, more than 50% of people who had breast cancer did not have any family history or known family history of breast cancer,” he said.
Ida Ceesay Ndiaye, a two-time cancer survivor, shares her journey of living with and overcoming cancer.
“When I initially did the first tests, it was in stage two, and by the time I actually started treatment, it was going to stage three. So I did the BRCA test and found out that it was probably in my genes, but they won’t show it because I didn’t know about it. It had grown from stage two to stage three, we had to do not the conventional method of having surgery and then chemotherapy. I had to start chemotherapy for almost nine months and then do the surgery. So chemotherapy was rough. Because chemotherapy is poison. It was rough, I lost my hair, and I looked like a completely different human being. I survived that part, which I believe is the hardest part,” she said.
Trust Bank’s Managing Director, Njilan Senghore, announced the bank’s commitment to supporting early detection and prevention by providing opportunities for staff members to get mammograms.
“For those of you who are here and working for the bank, we will make the opportunity available should you choose to get your mammogram done. In pink October month, there are many free mammograms and offers. But even without that, you have your medical insurance cards. So, the choice is in your hands; really, you need to take care of yourself for the sake of your families and your children,” she said.