Akbar requests women not to choose traditional medicine but to seek medical help

Many women prefer to choose traditional herbal medicine when they are diagnosed with breast cancer, or when they detect a lump in their breast.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar said this at Tanoa Plaza’s Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness Event in support of the Fiji Cancer Society.

Akbar requested women not to choose traditional medicine but to seek medical help immediately.

She says such ‘cures’ may bring comfort and reassurance to some women, but it should not be viewed as an effective alternative to timely medical care.

The Minister says too many women try to ignore their condition until the pain and suffering become unbearable and by that time cancer may well have spread to other organs and parts of the body and the outcome is sadly inevitable.

She says for too long women present themselves late and treatment is administered late which reduces the chances of a positive outcome.

Meanwhile, General Manager of Fiji Hotels Naren Kumar presented a cheque of $10,000 to the Fiji Cancer Society on behalf of the Tanoa Group of Hotels.

The event was attended by cancer survivors and their families and supporters of the Fiji Cancer Society.