Losalini Tavaga is a living testimony to the benefits of having to be checked for an early breast cancer diagnosis.

She shared her experience during the Pinktober launch at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) auditorium in Suva, yesterday.

“I know the benefits of having to come in early. I had come a day after I found a lump and here I am still standing today.”

Mrs Tavaga is the former CWMH General Manager and now the retired Director of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Supplies. She was screened in 2016 due to a lump she felt one Sunday morning.

After examinations were done, her doctor assured her that there was indeed a lump and when the biopsy results came in, it was confirmed that she had breast cancer.

“Whatever the future holds, nobody knows but one thing I know is that if we come early and get the treatment from the people who are specialised and are experts in their own field of study, we will be looked after well.”

Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete.
Photo: DEPTFO News

After a successful surgery, she is now able to say she is a survivor of breast cancer.

“I always recommend everyone to go for early treatment. Don’t go for the herbal medicines or the massages, go to the hospital,” Mrs Tavaga said.

CWM hospital surgeon Dr Josese Turagava urged women around the country to respond quickly during the early symptoms of breast cancer as he added that there have been 162 new cases for the 1-year mortality for 2018 Breast Cancer in Fiji.

“32 have died in one year (20 per cent), 75 have had Surgical Treatment (46 per cent), and 53 still seeking alternative treatment (33 per cent),” Dr Turagava said.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete who launched the event said, “Government continues to support the initiative apart from the social protection that it offers and together continues to see that all Fijians have access to Health care.”

“Pinktober is also an opportunity that before we head into the festive season and to ask ourselves the important question of how our health is, because that is what this awareness is all about,” Minister Waqainabete said.

Edited by Susana Tuilau

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