Johannesburg - This Breast Cancer Awareness month, Strawberry Lips has challenged South Africans to check their breasts regularly.
As part of their #DontBeaHothead campaign, the alcoholic beverage brand, which is acclaimed for its delicate blend of strawberry-flavoured cream liqueur, is determined to create awareness and educate young women about early detection, encourage them to talk to their healthcare providers and check their breasts.
“Cancer has touched the lives of almost everyone I know, which is why it is so crucial that we continue to educate women about the importance of self-examinations and regular screenings”, Strawberry Lips marketing manager Vanessa Nel said.
Nel listed the example of 27-year-old Fiona Ubisi, who was juggling multiple hustles while taking care of her one-year-old, hosting her podcast Ladies Checking In and holding down a 9 to 5 gig. And then the unthinkable happened.
In September 2020, seven months into the Covid-19 pandemic, Ubisi felt a lump in her breast.
“I immediately made an appointment with a breast cancer specialist, and after a mammogram and biopsy, I was told that I had stage 2 breast cancer,” she said.
Nel said that because of her swift actions, Ubisi isn’t just another number.
“Today, she’s a Strawberry Lips Breast Cancer Warrior.”
“The road to recovery hasn’t been an easy one, but Fiona has never been one to back down from a fight. She’s now in remission and thankful for the life she has,” said Nel.
Meanwhile, Ubisi urged women to take control of their bodies.
“Know your body and if anything doesn't feel right, get it checked by a doctor immediately,” she said.
“It's ok to cry and break down when you need to, but positivity is one of the biggest things that really kept me going.”
According to the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) 2020 statistics, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, accounting for 6.6% of all cancer deaths.
In South Africa, it is also the most common cancer among women, accounting for 20.8% of all female cancers. Though the risk for breast cancer increases as a person gets older, many women under the age of 40 have been (and will continue to be) diagnosed.
“Whether because they don’t know their risk or because they’ve never been shown how to check themselves, many young women in South Africa don’t find treatment until it's too late,” said Nel.
“The survival rate for breast cancer once it has reached stage 3 and 4 is only 24%, but, if caught early, that survival rate skyrockets to 93%.”
Strawberry Lips is now urging the nation’s women to get their breasts checked.
“This October, don't be a hothead! Keep your cool and get tested. Choose to know because the sky's the limit. What are you waiting for? Get started today by checking your breasts,” Nel said.
She suggested that they Touch, Look and Check:
Touch your breasts: does anything feel different?
Look for changes: do they look different?
Check with your doctor, public hospital breast clinic, CANSA Care Centre or Clicks if you are concerned.
Meanwhile, GHD is also supporting cancer awareness in South Africa with their PinkDrive campaign. The acclaimed hair straighteners and appliance manufacturers and retailers are on a mission to empower young women across the world to regularly check their breasts.
“Our newest collection features the ghd platinum hair straightener, ghd gold® hair straightener, ghd glide hot brush and ghd helios™ hair dryer in a vibrant orchid pink, emblazoned with an important message to 'Take Control Now' - giving you a friendly reminder to self-check EVERY. SINGLE. MONTH,” they said.
In addition, every R100 from every ghd pink limited edition purchase goes to PinkDrive®.