Breast cancer is a devastating disease that affects millions of women worldwide. While science and tradition may have different perspectives on its causes and treatments, one thing is certain – early detection is key to survival.
Once diagnosed with the disease, many are often torn between seeking the services of a traditional healer or going the medical route. In many cultures, breast cancer is believed to be hereditary, and in most cases, women develop lumps that grow over time.
Traditional healers use herbs to suppress the growth, but the effectiveness of these treatments is not scientifically proven. When the growths become too large, it may be impossible to treat, resulting in death, according to medical experts.
“A woman with breast cancer will experience a ‘stone-like’ growth in her breast that keeps growing with time causing her breast to swell,” said Baba David Ngwenya (88), a Bulawayo-based traditional healer with 53 years of experience. He had interesting perspectives to share about the ailment.
“It is hereditary; when a woman has breast cancer it means the spirit of her ancestor that is within her succumbed to the disease. We treat the disease with various herbs that I can’t mention. Herbs are patted onto the breast to prevent the lump from growing further. The disease is easier to treat at its early stages. By using the correct treatment, it may go away completely, but when left untreated, it will lead to death,” he said.
According to Baba Ngwenya, one of the biggest challenges in treating breast cancer is finding the right traditional medicines for treatment. A significant number of women turn to traditional healers for treatment as they may not have access to modern treatments due to financial constraints.
Scientifically, breast cancer is a complex disease with various risk factors, including genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors. However, Dr Tatenda Chingonzoh, a Clinical Oncologist said a majority of breast cancer cases are not solely attributed to genetics but rather a combination of multiple factors.
“Five percent of breast cancer cases are caused by genetics. The majority are sporadic; we don’t know what would have caused the breast cancer in an individual, but there are risks like early menstruation and late menopause, not having children or having children after the age of 35, not breastfeeding, and lack of exercise among other examples.
“The disease progresses through four stages, starting from stage 0, which is non-invasive, to stage IV, which indicates metastatic breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
The treatment options available for breast cancer depend on the stage at which it is diagnosed. Breast cancer has four stages, from stage zero before the lump can be felt but can be picked through screening.
Treatment depends on each stage, at early stages the lump can be removed, and sometimes radiotherapy can be done to the breasts. As the stages advance, a combination of treatments will be needed,” said Dr Chingonzoh.
According to Dr Chingonzoh, one of the primary issues with traditional medicine is its lack of evidence-based medication specifically designed to target and kill cancer cells. While traditional medicine may offer alternative therapies or remedies for various ailments, there is no traditional treatment that has been scientifically proven to effectively eliminate breast cancer cells.
“The problem with the traditional treatment is the lack of evidence based medicines. Most of our drugs are plant based, so we’re able to determine the dose that is toxic enough to kill a person, that’s why we prescribe the dosage. But with the alternative, even if there’s a herb that kills cancer cells, we wouldn’t know as there is no evidence. We need documentation and testing of our traditional medicine, who knows maybe there’s something there.
With the number of deaths from cancer and advanced stage presentation from most of our population, we are not managing to treat patients with traditional medicines, most probably because they don’t work, or they work but it’s the wrong dosage.”
Dr Chingonzoh highlighted that patients who opt for traditional methods as their primary treatment approach often find themselves in a precarious situation. By the time they realise the ineffectiveness of traditional medicine, their cancer would have progressed to an advanced stage that is challenging to treat. This delay in seeking evidence-based medical treatment significantly reduces the chances of successful outcomes and increases the risk of mortality.
“Although people continue using these traditional medicines and claim that they work, so far we have not seen any of the treatments that are effective in killing breast cancer, in fact, we have many patients who come to seek medication at an advanced disease stage after seeking traditional treatment which fails to work, but there would be little that could be done to treat the individual.”
Dr Chingonzoh emphasised that breast cancer can be combated effectively through early detection and prioritising evidence-based medication. Early detection through regular breast self-examinations, mammograms, and clinical screenings can significantly increase the chances of successful treatment and potential cure.
“Cancer can be treated if caught early, but the chances of coming early when people go for other alternatives after developing a lump are very low, hence we keep losing many of our women and the one percent of men affected by breast cancer,” said Dr Chingonzoh.
In Zimbabwe, breast cancer ranks as the second most common cancer among women followed by cervical cancer. It commonly affects people from the age of 20 going upwards, with the age of 45 at high risk.
Breast cancer remains a significant health concern globally, with evidence-based medication proving to be the most effective approach for treatment.
It is imperative for individuals to prioritise evidence-based medical care and seek prompt attention from healthcare professionals for early detection and improved treatment outcomes.