4 reasons more black women die of cancer
Despite the giant strides the medicine profession has made in the treatment of cancer in the west, statistics show that black women are more likely to die of cancer than their white peers.
And the numbers are staggering.
According to Dr Ernest Osei-Bonsu, Consultant Oncologist, only about 30 of 100 black woman diagnosed of cancer have any chance of survival. Compared to 90 out of 100 white females, the difference is alarming.
According to an investigation by two African journalists, there is such a huge gulf because of:
1. Social stigma
Breast cancer and its medical treatment is still shrouded in myths in Sub-Saharan Africa. “We are in a society where breast cancer is surrounded by myths and misconceptions. People think when you remove her breast, she is not a complete woman,” Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, a breast cancer specialist in Ghana said.
She added that many women, having been diagnosed of cancer, are driven from their matrimonial homes rather than supported in such a time of great need.
2. Poor medical care
Investigation results show that many breast cancer patients do not get proper and adequate treatment in this side of the world. Cases of over-medication, wrong diagnosis, and patient files mix-up were confirmed in a Ghanaian hospital dedicated to the treatment of Breast Cancer.
3. Late stage presentation
Because many black women tend to see either alternative or spiritual healers first, they don’t get to seek medical attention until it is too late. And the key to getting rid of the deadly disease, experts say, is early detection and treatment.
4. Nature
In addition to those man-made factors, nature seem to be contributing her own quota. Initial findings of a new study have confirmed that black women are more likely to suffer from a rare form of breast cancer called triple-negative.
Triple-negative breast cancer attacks women younger, is more aggressive and harder to treat.
