The Ministry of Health has recorded a total of 77 deaths due to breast cancer from January to July this year.
The Ministry has also recorded 56 new cases of breast cancer this year and of these 56 cases, one case is that of a male.
The Health Ministry recorded 282 cases of breast cancer last year and a total of 141 deaths due to breast cancer.
While speaking at the Pinktober Awareness Program organised by the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Fiji in Saweni Lautoka, Health Minister Rosy Akkbar says that the Ministry is working actively with the Fiji Cancer Society and relevant agencies to promote early screening and treatment as a way to save lives against breast cancer.
Akbar stressed that breast cancer is treatable provided it is detected early and that diseases like cancer causes pain and loss for not only the patients, but it also affects their families.
She also revealed that the Oncology Unit at CWM Hospital has confirmed that they have attended to a total of 123 confirmed breast cancer cases last year and 80 confirmed cases this year.
Akbar also highlighted that there are dedicated breast clinics offered with mamograms, surgery and chemotherapy is readily available at all the three divisional hospitals.
She says that currently, there are ongoing discussions for setting up of a Radiotherapy Unit in the future and Fiji needs to build on the local expertise.
