Photos by Linny Folau

Breast cancer ranks as one of the top 20 causes of death in Tonga and the rate is higher here than in the developed countries because women are leaving it too late to come forward for detection and treatment, speakers at the launch of "Pink October" for public awareness said this morning.

Dr Saia Piukala and Christine 'Uta'atu, Treaurer, Tonga Breast Cancer Society Inc. 1 October 2012.

Dr Saia Piukala, a surgeon at Vaiola Hospital, the keynote speaker, told members of the Tonga Breast Cancer Society Inc. that this year's theme "Talanoa Mai - Let's Talk" was simple yet so very important.

He called for all Tongans, including traditional and religious healers to become involved in the talanoa on breast cancer and to encourage women to make informed choices about the right decision to take.

"The importance of talking about it cannot be over-emphasized," he said.

"At the hospital there are two kinds of people we face – those who are willing to talk about it and those not so willing to talk about it. In breast cancer the difference between being willing to talk about it and not being willing to talk about it, can be the difference between living and dying," he said.

This year three women in Tonga had died from breast cancer because of their decision not have surgery in the early stages.

"Yet when they came back to us before the end they were sad because they all wished they could turn back the clock to that time. The youngest was in her 20s and those three women were mothers, daughters and sisters," he said.

"Let's talk. Talanoa mai. Simple yet so important!"

Dr Piukala said one lady who was willing to talk about it agreed to have surgery more than 20 years ago and she was now in her 80's. "She lives a normal healthy life because she agreed to come forward and talk about it early but, sadly, a few women refuse to have surgery despite talking about it."

Common cancer

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer to affect women in Tonga. In 2010, 35 women presented with a breast lump, 22 women had benign non-cancerous lumps, "while 13 were diagnosed with breast cancer and their life course altered forever because of this diagnosis," he said.

"I believe all of us should talk about it including men, traditional medicine healers and religious healers. We want to work together with you all because ultimately the patients come back to us and, sadly, we can not offer much to them then. In talking about it, we can get the right information and are able to make informed choices about the proper course of action to take."

Dr Piukala said the Ministry of Health was ready and supportive and had well trained staff who were compassionate and willing to address concerns.

"Our simple message is that most breast lumps are non-cancerous, talk to someone who knows about it, or come and talk to us," he said.

Survivor

A breast cancer survivor Lucy Moala-Mafi, originally from Kiribati but married to a Tongan living in Nuku'alofa, said she was diagnosed in February 2009 after a health check by her family doctor in Fiji.

Now working as a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Education and Training, she said that she did not have the symptoms of breast cancer but she did noticed an unusual small lump under her collar bone.

Lucy Moala-Mafi, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Education and Training.

"I had it checked out by my doctor who upon physical examination of my breast found something suspicious and recommended a scan and a mammogram, which led to fine needle test in Tonga. Then a second opinion check, surgery and biopsy in New Zealand with chemotherapy and radiation in Australia," she said.

Lucy said the biopsy test revealed two cancerous lumps one was 2cm in diameter and the other 2.2.

"My test results came back as a shock out of the blue because I have always been careful with my diet, I don't smoke nor drink but I was catching colds more often than normal, had muscle cramps more than usual and I think they were all symptoms there was something not right. I was in and out of clinics between February 2009 to April 2010 and the costs of treatment were subsidised by the Government of Tonga and it was not cheap because adding up all related costs, it would have been between $60,000 to $80,000 pa'anga," she said.

"In a way, the Tonga Breast Cancer Society saved my life because their message I got in the 2008 campaign was, if you feel something that is not right about your body you should get it checked out straight away with no delay."

Talk

"Spreading the word about early detection and the options for treatment can make a real difference, especially in Tonga where the detection rate is not so high as first world countries but the mortality rate or death rate is quite high, already passing one percent of total deaths, which shows women often leave it too late to check for breast cancer."

She said early detection had dramatically improved survival rates for women. "It is no longer a death sentence as we once thought, due to improved awareness, access to information as well as preventive and therapeutic services," she said.

Pink activities

The Tonga Breast Cancer Society has several activities planned for the Breast Cancer Awareness month, including a Pink Lunch, a Pink Walk and other fund-raising activities to raise public awareness of breast cancer.

Hon. Frederica Tuita the President of the Tonga Breast Cancer Society Inc. was the Guest of Honour at this morning's launch, which was also attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Tonga, HE Mr Yasuo Takase at Davina House in Nuku'alofa.