Pinktober

Pinktober launched. It's that time again when we rock pink as we mark breast cancer awareness month. I believe it's a cause that goes all year long but traditionally, October has remained as the main focus.

All those pink ribbons appearing everywhere mark the arrival of Breast Cancer Awareness month and the many wonderful events being organized worldwide to raise awareness, detection and diagnosis, and to fundraise research for it’s prevention and cure.

Breast cancer and breast exams are not only for women, men can also get breast cancer and they should do breast exams. Doing a breast exam, self or by a doctor, can save your life. Early detection saves lives and cancer is curable said Dr. Tukana.

The month's Pinktober awareness campaign, according to the Fiji Cancer Society, has been organised as "a way of getting to the people rather than trying to bring them to us".

The campaign has been conducted in different centres around the country to allow easy access to services provided. It is about encouraging people to get screened and maybe get the help they need.

As the society pointed out, it could even be a matter of life and death for some people. What is important though is the need for each one of us to remove the fear that has long been associated with cancer. It starts with encouragement for women to be part of this exercise.

It is important that women are pro-active and do their monthly check-ups. Cancer can be beaten. A positive note would have to be the fact that research has advanced treatment options that can extend a woman's life. This however depends on early detection