Medical Doctor with Oasis Medical Consult, Dr. Philip Obiri Ankomah has debunked claims that breast sucking can prevent women from getting breast cancer.
“Research hasn’t that if you get your breast sucked routinely it will prevent you from getting breast cancer.”
He describes it as a myth as no research has shown that sucking a woman breast by a male adult can prevent breast cancer.
He asserts that it is a strategy for encouraging the self-examination technique so that male adults can feel their breasts to check for lumps or changes in size or form.
Dr. Ankomah also urged individuals, particularly women, to get screened as we observe breast cancer awareness this month.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is marked in countries across the world, and helps to increase attention and support for awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment as well as palliative care for women facing this disease.
There are about 1.7 million new cases and 522 000 deaths from breast cancer each year [Globocan 2012 http://gco.iarc.fr/today/home].
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and is the most common cause of cancer among women in most countries.
In low- and middle-income countries the incidence has been rising steadily due to increased life expectancy, changing reproductive patterns (such as later age at first childbirth and less breast-feeding), and the adoption of western lifestyles.
Early diagnosis remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When found early, and if adequate diagnosis and treatment are available, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured. If detected late, however, curative treatment is often no longer an option. In such cases, treatment may improve quality of life and delay disease progression, while supportive and palliative care should be readily available to relieve suffering for patients and their families.
Story by Janelle Jones
