A Wits University study has identified two new breast cancer genes in black women, which is a significant breakthrough in understanding how the disease develops in African populations.
Researchers say these genes have not been associated with the disease before. They say genetic factors contribute to 30 of breast cancer cases in South Africa, necessitating investment in genomic research in women of African ancestry.
The prevalence of cancer within black communities in the country is a pressing health concern, from cervical and breast to prostate cancers, and the limited access to healthcare facilities impacts awareness and treatment.
33-year-old Minky Maine from Lebotlwane village in the North West survived breast cancer. It was while pursuing her tertiary studies in 2010 that it was detected. And it remains the scariest moment of her life.
She says she didnt have any prior information about the disease, but through a wellness programme held at their varsity, she tested one day and was diagnosed with left breast cancer. She got the lump successfully removed before the cancer could spread to other parts of her body. Maine underlines the importance of raising awareness and early detection as being most crucial in addressing this scourge.