Many women diagnosed with breast cancer turn to traditional and herbal treatment instead of going to a hospital for medical attention.
Fiji Cancer Society says this is due to the lack of support from family members, denial once tested positive and financial difficulties.
Chief Executive, Belinda Chan, says women diagnosed with cancer often live in fear and find difficulties going to the hospital to receive treatment.
“We have those from the rural areas or very urban areas and informal settlements that need assistance, so you’re looking at the lower end of the social economic scale. They find it very difficult to journey with it so this is probably another reason why they tend to go towards traditional medicine. And for them making that decision to bring themselves to the hospital for treatment is really difficult.”
Breast cancer survivor, Asenaca Driso told FBC News it’s important to get medical treatment as soon as one’s tested positive with cancer and to not leave it to the last minute.
