Thinking Pink Offers Free Screenings Amid Rising Breast Cancer Cases in Sierra Leone

Thinking Pink Breast Cancer Foundation is offering free breast cancer screenings throughout the month of October. The initiative aims to increase awareness and provide early detection resources to the community.  

The free health screenings will take place at their office, at 32 Wesley street Pademba road Freetown, and are expected to attract a good number of participants. 

Breast cancer rates in Sierra Leone are alarming, affecting 43.6 per 100,000, who are mostly women. It is the most prevalent cancer in Sierra Leone, making up 25% of new cancer cases and 35% of cancer-related deaths according to the World Health Organisation. Around 40% of women with breast cancer in Sierra Leone die from the disease. 

The Foundation, through this initiative, is hoping to curb the rising number of breast cancer cases in the country. 

Thinking Pink’s Mission to Fight Breast Cancer in Sierra Leone

Thinking Pink,  is a local NGO based in Freetown, was founded by Cremelda Parkinson Pratt in October 2014. 

Initially a health fair for breast cancer screenings, Thinking Pink later became a foundation dedicated to fighting breast cancer in Sierra Leone. The organization raises  awareness about breast cancer and advocates for the establishment of a cancer unit in the country. 

Thinking Pink lobbies local and international stakeholders to advance its mission. It also provides care for cancer patients through counseling, and offers advice on nutrition and healthy living. 

Kadija Konneh (L) and Cremelda Parkinson Pratt (R)

Challenges with fighting Breast Cancer in Sierra Leone

The breast cancer fight faces several challenges, with lack of awareness being a major issue. Kadijah Konneh, an oncology-trained nurse with Thinking Pink,  noted that many people lack knowledge about breast cancer, leading to late detection.  

“In most cases, especially here in Sierra Leone, when a woman finds herself at stage three, it quickly, almost immediately, progresses to stage four,” said Konneh.  

“Unfortunately, stage four means that the disease is basically very hard to cure or impossible to cure altogether. So a lot of people show up at the clinic or hospitals or work late.” 

Who Are At Risk Of Getting Breast Cancer

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million fatalities in 2022. Around 53.5 million million people survived at least 5 years after their diagnosis, with 1 in 5 individuals expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. About 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women are likely to die from the disease. 

Breast cancer starts in the breast cells, usually in the milk ducts or lobules, and can spread if left untreated. It often presents as lumps or thickened areas. 

“Breast cancer is becoming alarming in Sierra leone. Out of 400 and above screening, 180 are cancer positive in 2023,” Konneh said.  

She further highlighted the limited treatment facilities in Sierra Leone. The country has only two screening centers; Choithram hospital at hill station and Eco-med hospital at King Haarman road in Freetown. 

In some cases, patients are taken to Connaught hospital where a ward is available for cancer treatment.

Treatments for Breast Cancer

According to Konneh, there are many breast cancer treatments, but three main methods are mostly used. 

The first surgery, either mastectomy or lumpectomy. A mastectomy involves removing the entire breast and some surrounding tissue, while a lumpectomy removes only a lump. 

The second method is chemotherapy, where powerful drugs are injected into the body to target breast cancer cells. This method aims for a systemic cure. 

Lastly there is radiotherapy, which uses a machine 50 times more powerful than an x-ray to kill cancer cells in specific areas. 

In Sierra Leone,  specialized oncology surgeons and chemotherapy drugs are available. However radiotherapy, which is a vital cancer treatment, is not available.  Patients often have to travel abroad for radiotherapy or further treatments like hormonal, targeted therapy or immunotherapy. 

Konneh noted that research continues to explore cancer prevention through lifestyle changes, medication, and surgeries. 

The Thinking Pink Breast Cancer Foundation has fought breast cancer for over 10 years. It continues to offer free monthly screenings and raises awareness through campaigns in schools, mosques, churches, and the wider public. 

DONE BY: DAVID BANGURA