Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 16.8 percent of all female cancers. Central, West, and East Africa appear to have lower incidence rates than southern Africa, the latter estimated at 33.4 per 100,000. An estimated total of 48,600 cases occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2002.
Worldwide, risk factors for female breast cancer include menstrual and reproductive factors, high body mass index (BMI), family history of breast cancer, and certain genetic mutations, including BRCA1/2. Other suggested risk factors include, to a much lesser extent, high alcohol consumption, contraceptive use, and the use of certain postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies. Reproductive and hormonal factors appear to be the most important, with risk being increased by early menarche, late menopause, late age at first birth, and low parity (Henderson, Ross, and Bernstein 1988).
Studies in Sub-Saharan Africa have also found reproductive and hormonal factors to be important, reporting increased risk with advanced age at first pregnancy and delivery, low parity, and late age at menarche (Adebamowo and Adekunle 1999; Coogan et al. 1996; Shapiro et al. 2000; Ssali, Gakwaya, and Katangole-Mbidde 1995).
In Sub-Saharan Africa, higher incidence rates and relative frequencies of breast cancer have been reported in association with urban than with rural residence (Oettlé and Higginson 1966; Schonland and Bradshaw 1968), but data are sparse. The incidence of breast cancer is much higher among white women in Africa than among black African women; for example, in Harare between 1993 and 1995, the incidence was 127.7 per 100,000 in whites and 20.4 in blacks (Chokunonga et al. 2000). These differences may be a reflection of the distribution of lifestyle factors thought to be important in the development of breast cancer, for example, low parity and high body mass.
Breast cancer risk has been associated with socioeconomic status, with women of higher social class (as measured by education, income, housing, and so forth) having a higher risk (Kogevinas et al. 1997). Once again, such differences are most likely a reflection of different prevalences of risk factors among social classes (for example, parity, age at menstruation and menopause, height, weight, alcohol consumption).
The effect of oral contraceptive hormones on the risk of breast cancer has been the subject of much research. There appears to be a small but detectable risk in women currently using oral contraceptives, but this diminishes when contraception ceases, and after 10 years, none of the excess risk remains (Reeves 1996). A case-control study in South Africa found that combined oral contraceptives may result in a small increase in risk, confined to women below the age of 25 years, but that injectable progesterone contraceptives did not increase risk (Shapiro et al. 2000).
Dietary fat appears to be correlated with the risk of breast cancer in interpopulation studies (Prentice and Sheppard 1990), but the association has been difficult to confirm in studies of individuals (Hunter et al. 1996). However, obesity in postmenopausal women has been identified as a risk factor in Europe (Bergstrom et al. 2001) as well as in Sub-Saharan Africa (Adebamowo and Adekunle 1999; Walker et al. 1989). Although traditional diets in Africa are typically low in animal products, especially fat, and high in fiber (Labadarios et al. 1996; Manning et al. 1971), this pattern is being modified by urbanization and Westernization of lifestyles, which may lead to an increase in breast cancer incidence in African populations. A case-control study in Cape Town did not find a protective effect of breastfeeding on breast cancer (Coogan et al. 1999). However, in a meta-analysis of 47 studies from 30 countries breastfeeding appears to be protective; based on a reanalysis of about 50,302 cases and 96,973 controls, two-thirds of the difference in rates between developed and developing countries were estimated to be attributed to breastfeeding (International Collaboration on HIV and Cancer 2002).
At least part of the familial risk of breast cancer is mediated through the major susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 (about 2 percent of breast cancer cases in Europe). Very little is known of the prevalence of these mutations in African populations, although family history of breast cancer is also a risk factor in this setting (Rosenberg et al. 2002).
About 1 percent of all breast cancer cases occur in men, with the male-to-female ratio being higher in black and African populations than among white populations (Parkin et al. 2003; Sasco, Lowels, and Pasker de Jong 1993).
A review of the literature indicates a deficit of studies on breast cancer risk in Sub-Saharan Africa, and further research could be beneficial. As certain groups become more Westernized and urbanized, with associated changes in diet, later childbirth, and reduced parity and periods of breast-feeding, breast cancer incidence may increase. Public health campaigns should encourage breastfeeding unless there are good reasons not to (for example, HIV-infected mothers where milk powder and sterile water are freely available). There is no organized mammography screening program in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Maize poses a health risk, study finds

A new French study conducted on the long-term health impacts of genetically modified (GM) maize has found that the maize poses a threat to South African consumers, the only consumers of GM in Africa.

Maize meal is South Africa's main staple food and consumed mostly by the black community. Results of the study were released internationally last week and they showed that GM Foods caused cancer and had serious impacts on liver and kidney functioning.

Conducted by French scientists, the study was released last week in France.

It was conducted on rats for two years. Genetically modified seeds are developed in a laboratory by inserting genes from another species into a crop.

The rats that were fed GM maize diet had a higher mortality rate of up to 50% of males, and 70% for females than those that were eating other types of food.

The study also reveals that at the beginning of the 24th month, 50% to 80% of females fed GM diets had developed tumours around the body, while male rats showed liver congestion.

Miriam Mayet, director of the African Centre for Biosafety in Johannesburg, said it was possible that many local brands were affected because 40% of maize is grown with a variety called NK603.

Countries such as Zimbabwe, Mexico and South Korea were reported to be unaware that they were importing the GM maize.

"Countries such as Swaziland and Mozambique know that they are buying GM maize from South Africa," Mayet said.

"GM maize is impossible to detect, because there is no labelling unless you test it."

She said SA was the only country where people consumed about 70% of genetically modified food. In other countries GM maize meal is not consumed by humans.
(COURTNEY D)
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Challenges for Breast Cancer in Swaziland

With October being International Breast Cancer Awareness Month it is the time the community is most focused on the disease and its effect in the community. In 2011, over 50 local Swazi women were diagnosed with the disease and two men from the 3000 consultations performed by Swaziland Breast and Cervical Cancer Network.
However, with many people in the population still not aware of the disease or not able to access screening due to their remote locations, the number of people living with the disease that have no diagnosis or care is much higher.
increase
It is for this reason that throughout the year and especially during October, SBCCN is working to constantly increase its awareness and fundraising activities.
“Breast Cancer affects more Swazis than many of us realise,” says Teresa Rehmeyer, Board Chair of SBCCN, “Sadly most patients diagnosed with the disease can only be offered surgery as treatment because opportunities for much needed chemotherapy in South Africa are limited. SBCCN is a not-for profit organisation, run predominantly by volunteers and to date it has not been funded by government or the Phalala fund (as was mistakenly stated in a recent article).
memory
“However, we are grateful for the assistance we receive from local businesses and individuals and from international development donors which allows us to bring awareness and diagnosis and support to those affected by breast cancer. We are also aiming to partner with other key stakeholders especially the ministry of health in the future to facilitate bringing other treatment options to Swaziland as soon as possible.”
SBCCN will be running its popular annual memorial walk up Sheba’s Breast in Mantenga Reserve on October 28. The walk is held in memory of Jane King, a founding member of SBCCN who passed away from the disease and also in recognition of all Swazi’s affected by the condition and Rehmeyer says “Brave the Breast 2012 will be a great day for many reasons, it brings awareness, prompts us to remember those lost to Breast Cancer, helps SBCCN raise vital finds to continue its work and it’s a chance to work on our own health and fitness alongside friends and family while enjoying the outdoors and the many give-away products donated generously by local companies!”
You can register for Brave the Breast by visiting the website: www.brave-the-breast.org or by visiting SBCCN’s office (3A PrintPak Building, Sheffield Rd Mbabane) or the SwaziTrails office at Mantenga Craft Centre. (COURTNEY D)

 

 

 

 

 

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Uganda Blasts New Allegations of Helping Congo Rebels

Uganda is denouncing a leaked United Nations report that says both Uganda and Rwanda are supporting rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo — a charge both countries have denied.

Congo calls for embargo on Rwandan minerals

 Congo accuses Rwanda of funding revolt in country's east

(Reuters) - The Democratic Republic of Congo is seeking an embargo on trade in minerals from Rwanda, which it accuses of funding a rebellion in the country's east, according to a letter written by the mines minister and seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

Six Indian UN troops hurt in clash on DR Congo-Uganda border

KINSHASA — Six Indian troops from the UN monitoring force in the Democratic Republic of Congo and their interpreter were wounded in an ambush in the conflict-ridden east of the country, a UN mission spokesman said Wednesday.

Uganda denies supporting Congo rebels

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Ugandan officials on Wednesday dismissed allegations in a United Nations report that Uganda supports rebels in eastern Congo, saying the claims are intended to undermine efforts by regional leaders to stem violence in the central African country.