From January 2019 to August 2020, there were 187 breast cancer cases recorded in Fiji.
This is according to data collated by the Surgical and Pathology Departments at CWM Hospital.
63% of these cases did not have treatment.
These were cases that were lost to follow up and where patients refused treatment.
It also found that 72% of breast cancer patients during this period were 40 to 70 years old.
The youngest patient was 20 years old.
98% of breast cancer patients are female.
Based on the data collated, 78% of the breast cancer patients between January last year to August this year were iTaukei and 19% were Fijians of Indian descent.
The Head of the Surgery Department at the CWM Hospital Doctor Josese Turagava says Fiji has 250 to 300 new cases of breast cancer per year.
He says the youngest breast cancer patient was 17 years old and she passed away 2 years ago.
Doctor Turagava says patients still present themselves to the hospital very late and their key message to people is breast cancer is curable in the early stages.
Cancer survivor Aqela Tuiwainunu says she decided to take herbal medicine when she was first diagnosed.
She says the herbal medicine did not work.
Tuiwanunu finally had medical treatment in February and was cleared by doctors after chemotherapy and other treatment.
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