It may start with the left breast. Or the right. And before you know it, your smile is gone, replaced by a thick blanket of pain.
You brush it off, calling it fatigue. “I’m tired,” you say. But the pain grows teeth. And bites harder. On a random hospital visit, the doctor, avoiding your eyes, says, “Stage three.”
Breast cancer steals quietly. It starts small, unseen, and by the time most people notice, it has already gained ground. Every year, about 2.3 million women across the world receive the same diagnosis.
In Uganda alone, breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women. Most discover it too late. Hospitals are distant. Treatment costs more than a lifetime’s savings. In some villages, people still label it witchcraft. In cities, where the enlightened dwell, they think, “It won’t happen to me.” But it does. Every single day.
The wonderful ladies at Zeus the Agency remind us:
TOUCH TO STAY ALIVE.
You can stop this scourge in its tracks. Check yourself.
Or, as we say, touch yourself. Do it every month. Anytime. Anywhere. Learn what your body feels like when it’s healthy, so you notice when it’s not. Feel for lumps. Go for screening if you can.
Encourage your sister, your mother, and your friend. Share stories.
Early detection is one of the few avenues for survival.
Donate when you can; one chemotherapy session can cost more than a year’s school fees. If you run a company, cover screenings for your staff. If you work in government, fight for accessible treatment.
Check your breasts. Be abreast of the situation. That’s how you fight back.
In partnership with UWOCASO, we continue to stand with every woman — for early detection, for awareness, and for love that heals beyond words.