By Margaret Mangani –
The month of October is considered as the breast cancer awareness period.
The pink ribbon is worn or should be pinned on the breast of all those who could have a chance to obtain one from those found circulating it on breast-cancer as a sign of awareness this month.
As I wore my Pink ribbon, it reminded me of many women that have gone ahead with breast-cancer.
These include our sisters, out there in the far flung areas who could have been ignorant of the fact that breast-cancer exists and yet can kill.
As we remember those who have passed on just know that somewhere our mothers, sisters, wives and friends may be suffering silently from breast-cancer due to lack of information on the same.
The time to join the race, to start spreading information or vital knowledge on breast cancer is now. The month of October could just be the right moment and so do create awareness without any cost implications at all.
Rather than waiting upon the politicians to flag the race. Cancer of any form may affect any members of our families and so we need to carry out as much publicity on the killer disease as possible. It would be folly for anyone to claim that they are not affected if not infected.
Common Cancers
in Zambia
The most common cancers are cervical, kaposis sarcoma, bladder prostrate and breast. We can do more before the month of October gets to an end to spread out the news about breast-cancer which has ravaged many members of our families.
It is not too late to do so, even using the social media such as facebook can be helpful. I for one,  has  a friend on facebook her name is Doreen Mwenya Grant, who is based in the USA.
She is one of those survivors who has done so much to reach out to many other women with such messages out there.
She is very passionate about the subject such that she does not hesitate to share her experiences of how she has survived the disease.
A survivor is one that may have gone through that painful experience of learning that she had breast cancer but is now managing it and living with it. In Doreen’s instance, she had to undergo what they call the surgical removal of the affected breast remaining with one which is not. Of course after that operation she has had to make certain adjustments to her lifestyle such as change in diet which now comprises mostly of vegetables, fruits and dropping of meat products and so forth. After discovering that she had breast cancer, Doreen has lived on a positive happy life and achieved quite a lot.
This author is proud to state that she is a living testimony. In addition, early treatment is a must and that is what she resorted to doing. Being a mother with a supportive partner, I have no doubt that she is also reaching out to even those that are in the far flung places with awareness messages so there is need for us to emulate her.
So as we travel on those planes, buses or cars, the breast cancer messages should be disseminated to others. The size of the breast doesn’t really matter if big or small.
Infact in Doreen’s incidence, she discovered that something was wrong just after the birth of one of her kids and sought the right action. We can also use the text messaging system method to disseminate such messages. As one coming from the media, I feel we cannot just be left out of this battle we need to join in with the modern technology that we can use to disseminate such awareness messages.
Apart from ensuring that the ‘Pink Ribbon’ is distributed, information dissemination is paramount as well. Perhaps as the pink ribbon is being distributed it is incumbent upon us to relay the important messages on Breast-Cancer.
You and I may never know it might save a life or two by taking such a step. Places such as churches, markets or bus stations should be targeted and with such powerful messages we need to be agents for.
For instance, you cannot just place a pink ribbon on someone’s breast without explaining what it is all about. There is need to explain the prevalence rate of cancer in Zambia including breast cancer and the fact that October apart from being the Jubilee month for Zambia is also observed as breast cancer month.
A pink ribbon should not just be adorned as a fashionable item without relaying such important messages attached to its significance. It should be explained clearly that its part of the awareness campaign specifically for breast cancer. Mind you when cancer strikes it is not painful initially it may just be a growth or lump in the breast which can later on turn out to be a  killer if not properly handled.
Breast-cancer mostly affects women in developing countries but require supportive partners to manage the disease in a stress free environment.
Other symptoms are a change in the shape of the breast, dimpling, fluid coming from the nipple or a red scary patch of skin. Risky factors of developing breast-cancer are obesity, lack of physical exercise and hormone replacement during menopause, among other factors.
Important things to observe to avoid risk of developing cancer;
•    Avoid smoking tobacco
•    Drink Alcohol in moderation
•    Exercise regularly.
•    Eat a diet high in fibre, low in fat, low sugar and salt
•     Maintain a body weight .
•    Find ways to relieve stress.
•    Avoid promiscuity.
•    Always use a condom .
So do not allow the month of October pass you by without sharing such important health messages with friends, relatives or strangers out there. Breast-cancer awareness is observed annually in the month of October and so look out for that ‘Pink Ribbon’ it is equally as important don’t pin it on minus such vital messages it carries about the disease.
The Bible in the book of Hosea 4;6 states that my people perish due to lack of knowledge. Do not be part of those who are perishing simply because you lack knowledge. Get the information and learn to share it with others.