Healthcare practitioners urged to have open conversations with breast cancer patients at Pfizer Roundtable
The Consultant (Radiotherapy and Oncology) and Director National Centre for Radiotherapy Oncology & Nuclear Medicine, Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Joel Yarney has urged healthcare providers to encourage breast cancer patients to have open conversations about their ailments so that they participate in their own treatment.
According to Dr Yarnney, taking an active role in their treatment can help breast cancer patients feel empowered in making the best decisions for themselves.
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He said although many strides had been chalked in breast cancer treatment through scientific innovation, it was crucial for patients to have the right information and expectations.
“The transformative impact of science on breast cancer is evident within the breast cancer community. While we've made a meaningful change for those living with this disease, our work is far from finished," Dr Yarney said during Pfizer’s virtual Media Roundtable to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
"It is crucial for patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or even metastatic breast cancer to have the right information and expectations. It is our duty to encourage patients to have open conversations with their healthcare teams to understand how they can be supported and how they can participate in their own caretaking an active role in their treatment can help them feel empowered in making the best decisions for themselves.”
Also speaking at the Media Roundtable which was held virtually for all the participants, the Medical Director East & Anglo West Africa, Kodjo Soroh spoke about Pfizer's commitment to delivering life-changing scientific breakthroughs in the field of oncology.
He said “Oncology remains a key therapeutic field for Pfizer in which we are working to deliver medical breakthroughs that have the potential to change patients’ lives across the region significantly and we are proud of these achievements, and we thank our media members, colleagues, HCPs and everyone for this event.”
For his part, the Consultant Clinical and Radiation Oncologist, NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adewumi Alabi, lauded the organisers of the Roundtable for creating a forum for sharing the best insights and findings that can support patients in winning the battle against cancer.
"The importance of clinical research in breast cancer care cannot be overemphasized. These forums are critical as they allow us to share our best insights and findings that can support patients in winning the battle against cancer. Breast cancer itself is one of the deadliest diseases with a high prevalence in the area,” he said.
Speakers at the Roundtable were unanimous in their call for the public to take early detection seriously and help friends and families by encouraging regular self-examination and conversations with their doctors.
The participants also addressed metastatic breast cancer incidence, how it is diagnosed, who is at risk, steps to take to fight breast cancer, expectations, as well as the latest scientific advancement in treatment.
The participants further stressed that although great progress has been made in the treatment and care of breast cancer, there was still a lot more work to be done.
In 2020 the World Health organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBACAN) reported 28,380 and 4,482 new cases of breast cancer for Nigeria and Ghana respectively 1, 2.
About Pfizer, Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Pfizer describes its Breast Cancer Awareness Month as an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to changing the lives of people with breast cancer for the better – from treatment to helping to remove barriers to equitable care and beyond.
Pfizer has supported patients and the breast cancer community for more than 20 years by powering more treatment options and more scientific breakthroughs for everyone.