Breast cancer screening and support services available

Discovering a lump in your breast can be a terrifying experience and it’s important to know where to go for medical assistance and support.

For those fortunate enough to afford a medical aid cover, the options are quite straightforward, but what services are available for those reliant on the public health sector?

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, says there are public health services available and accessible to people following a discovery of a suspicious lump in their breast.

According to the department’s Dr Sharon Čačala, medical specialist in surgery at the Tygerberg Hospital, as a starting point, a medical examination is advised.

“If someone finds a lump in their breast, they should visit their local clinic (primary health care level) or general practitioner (GP) for an examination.

“The GP or clinic may perform a fine needle aspiration (FNA) to assess the lump. Depending on the findings, the person will be referred to a hospital for further tests, which could include a core biopsy and imaging,” she says.

After consultations at either the primary health care centre or a GP, patients may then be referred to a public hospital for further assessment.

Dr Čačala says it’s important to note that for patients to access services at their relevant hospital, they need to be in possession of referral letters from the first healthcare professional they consulted with. “This can be done via the electronic referral system, or with a physical referral letter after confirming the relevant facility,” she says.

Breast screening services are available at the breast clinics at public hospitals in the Western Cape and include ultrasounds for patients with breast lumps, nipple discharge or lumps in the armpit area.

Dr Čačala says: “Patients at high risk for breast cancer (for example those with gene mutations) receive regular clinical and radiological screenings.”

Patients may be referred to mammography to confirm certain diagnoses.

Breast cancer screening services are paramount in early detection and Dr Peter Schoub, Chair of the Breast Imaging Society of South Africa (BISSA), in a press release, points out how little women, especially those with medical aid cover, make use of the screening services on offer.

“Although most major medical schemes offer complimentary mammogram screenings for women over 40, only about 20% of women take advantage of this service,” says Dr Schoub.

He says even though the risk for breast cancer increases with age, the disease does not discriminate and can affect anyone.

“This is why routine self-examinations and clinical breast checks by a healthcare professional at least once a year are essential. Any abnormality, regardless of age or family history, should be evaluated by a medical professional immediately.”

For people facing a breast cancer diagnosis, there is no need to walk the traumatic path alone as there are several support services available.

Some of these services in public health listed by Dr Čačala include psychology, physiotherapy, genetic counselling (only available at Tygerberg hospital), palliative care nursing, Pink Ladies transport fund (also only at Tygerberg hospital) and support from social workers, and volunteers through Reach for Recovery.

Reach for Recovery (R4R) Somerset West/Stellenbosch and Strand, also known as R4R Somstel, provides a range of services and also hosts monthly or bi-monthly support group meetings.

Roena de Villliers, chairperson of the local group, says the meetings are platforms to introduce patients, members of the public, and volunteers to the work done by the organisation, both regionally and nationally.

To those affected by breast cancer, the meetings are beneficial on many levels. Ms de Villiers says: “With these meetings, we provide patients with the opportunity to receive health education from specialist speakers, stay in contact with volunteers, and informally share their challenges with other breast cancer survivors.

She says: “This contact opens doors to significant relationships that provide a sense of belonging with patients. They are motivated by the different topics and practical and medical information presented by specialist speakers in a variety of breast cancer and health disciplines.”

For more information on the work of Reach for Recovery and to know more about breast cancer and treatment options, visit www.reach4recovery.org.za

To find a Reach for Recover branch in your area, visit www.reach4recovery.org.za/contact/to for a list of regional representatives.