Kinshasa, May 18th, 2025 (CPA).- Women in the municipality of Ngaliema in the west of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have been made sensitised on Sunday to breast and cervical cancer, in order to avoid the harmful consequences of these diseases on their health, during a one-day event. ‘The women must be informed about breast and cervical cancer. That’s why I’m sensitising them today, because these two types of cancer cover a wide range of diseases that can occur in almost every organ and tissue in the body’, has declared Dr Kumbali, a doctor treating patients in Kinshasa. ‘Certain cells can develop abnormally and uncontrollably, escaping the body’s regulation. These cells end up invading neighbouring tissues and spreading to other organs, a process known as metastases, he has added, before outlining the risk factors associated with these cancers.
‘’Among the risk factors are age, family history, certain breast diseases and prolonged exposure to natural hormones, particularly between the onset of menstruation and the menopause. There are also so-called ‘behavioural’ risk factors such as alcohol consumption and obesity, as well as environmental risks such as exposure to X-rays’, has indicated Dr Kumbali, while stressing that certain cancers are genetic in origin, which requires particular vigilance, especially for women with a family history.
‘Regular monitoring enables the disease to be detected early’, he insisted. To combat these diseases effectively, he emphasised prevention, which he sees as the most effective way of improving patient care. Dr Kumbali also pointed out that breast cancer affects men as well as women. He also called for holistic care, including psychological support.