Cancer stigma and fear continue to affect how some cancer patients seek and continue treatment, with the Fiji Cancer Society highlighting cases where patients initially seek medical help but later disappear.

An Executive Board Member of the Fiji Cancer Society, Inoke Bainimarama, highlighted late presentation and stigma as two major challenges in cancer care.

“We have some who actually turn up, and then they disappear. And then we have to follow up and then we don’t, you know, they, and that’s because of the stigma or the fear” Bainimarama highlighted.

Bainimarama said some people still view cancer as a death sentence, despite the availability of support, specialised treatment and cases of patients who have gone into remission.

“People think that, you know, when you’ve been diagnosed and you have cancer, it’s a death sentence, but it’s not. You know, there’s other ways, there’s support, and we’ve got special cases of people who have overcome the fight against cancer” he continued.

The Fiji Cancer Society has also recorded about 217 breast cancer cases from January to the Pink Walk, with new cancer presentations reported each week.

Bainimarama added this makes early detection and awareness particularly important, urging people to seek medical attention if they notice any unfamiliar changes in their bodies.

“And the patterns are, the trends are, that it just, the numbers keep rising, and that’s why, for us, detection, early detection is very important, and we tell people, if you experience any change in your bodies, go and get tested” he added.

The message comes as the Society launches Pinktober under this year’s theme, “Turning Awareness into Action.”

BY: JOELI RAGONELIWA