Youngest breast cancer patient is 17 years old

The youngest person who has been diagnosed with breast cancer in Fiji is 17 years old.

Consultant Surgeon CWM Hospital Doctor Josese Turagava says in the last three years, they have diagnosed a lot of people between the age of 20 to 30 years living with breast cancer.

He says from 2006 to 2013 they recorded 355 breast cancer cases and majority of the people diagnosed were between the age of 40 to 60 years.

Doctor Turagava says between this period only 7 males had breast cancer.

He then highlighted that in 2012, 217 people were diagnosed and only 61 of them received treatment.

Doctor Turagava says most of the people still refuse to seek medical treatment while others prefer traditional medicine.

Meanwhile, the CWM Pinktober Awareness campaign was launched at the CWM Hospital today.

Pinktober is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness on the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.

The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.