According to the report submitted by the Ministry of Health statistics it was shocking to find that Fijians topped the number of patients who suffered from breast cancer . Out of the total number of 68 cases 62 were females and 6 were men. 39 cases were Fijians, 22 were Indians and the rest belonged to other races. Hence to create awareness among the Fijians the Fiji Cancer Society's organized Breast Cancer Awareness Week. The board member Maroesja Azzopardi said that women should not shy from the disease and should be well informed about the outcomes and also requested them to inform about their conditions to their families.
The main reason for the increasing number of breast cancer among Fijians is that they do not inform their family members or husband about the disease. They hide it from their families and visit herbalists for the treatment of cancer. They are brought to the hospital when the patient is in the advanced stage and the doctors are unable to save the patient. The awareness week included a variety of programs related to breast cancer. It informs women about the disease, treatment options, what to do immediately after being tested positive, where to go to seek help and what changes to expect.
