According to studies, black women are 2.7 times more likely to develop aggressive breast cancer.
Breast cancer education campaigns emphasize self-care and prevention, however, these do not have a communicative approach to Afro-descendant, Raizal, Black, Palenquera and Indigenous women of Colombia, populations who are not exempt from suffering from this disease. , and who, conversely, have a higher percentage of developing more advanced stages of this type of cancer.
“This condition is very frequent in our country, we have almost 15,000 new cases a year, and it represents a great burden for women, their families, living expenses, obviously, expenses for health services; but, above all, a very difficult experience, which also takes the lives of many women. Let us remember that it is the tumor with the highest mortality in our country ”, warn the Ministry of Health.
Despite the fact that all women have some percentage of breast cancer, for example in the United States, the average risk for women is 12%. A study conducted with African-American women showed that there are a number of factors that can increase the likelihood of the incidence of the disease, such as aging, race, menopausal status and breast density.
On the other hand, it is essential to understand that mammography is the most comprehensive and important examination for the early diagnosis of breast cancer, however, according to the study “Availability of Mammography Services in Colombia” by the Colombian Journal of Cancerology, Al National level, 23% of Colombian women aged 50-69 have to leave their apartment of residence to receive mammography service, which has a direct impact on breast cancer outcomes in the country.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) explains breast cancer as “the most common type of cancer and the most common cause of cancer death in women worldwide.” In America, this type of cancer accounted for nearly a quarter of new cancer cases in 2020, for which Latin America and the Caribbean showed 32 percent of the proportion of women affected by the disease before age 50, a higher percentage , compared to North America, which accounts for 19%.
Similarly, the same entity warns that, “Each year in South and North America, more than 462,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 100,000 die from the disease. If current trends continue, by 2030, the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer is projected to increase by 34 percent in this same region.”
signs
Presence of masses or lumps in the breasts or armpits
Hardening or swelling of part of the breast
Redness or peeling on the nipple or breast
Sagging of the nipple or changes in its position
Exit of the secretion through the nipple, in periods other than breastfeeding
Any change in the size or shape of the breasts
Pain anywhere in the breast or armpits
Swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone
