About Yananiso
Who We Are
Why We Are Here
Why We Are Here
Yananiso is dedicated to empowering women and youth, focusing on imparting crucial life skills and offering networking platforms to share experiences. Our capacity-building initiatives aim to motivate, inspire, and equip individuals for success!
Why We Are Here
Why We Are Here
Why We Are Here
We believe that thriving communities are the cornerstone of strong communities and nations. That's why we advocate for establishing sustainable livelihoods for women and youth through our life skills training centre. Life skills are like a versatile toolkit, empowering individuals to navigate life's challenges. From communication and prob
We believe that thriving communities are the cornerstone of strong communities and nations. That's why we advocate for establishing sustainable livelihoods for women and youth through our life skills training centre. Life skills are like a versatile toolkit, empowering individuals to navigate life's challenges. From communication and problem-solving to collaboration and creativity, these skills equip people to tackle obstacles with resilience and shape their own destinies. At Yananiso, we're committed to the belief that life skills are crucial for enhancing women's employability and broadening their opportunities for income generation.
Who We Love
Why We Are Here
Who We Love
Our team is dedicated to providing top-notch life skills training for women and youth, and we are motivated by the remarkable changes we witness in the people we serve. At Yananiso, we advocate for accessible life skills education regardless of economic status. Our training is facilitated through two distinct centres:
1. Eve-olve: This i
Our team is dedicated to providing top-notch life skills training for women and youth, and we are motivated by the remarkable changes we witness in the people we serve. At Yananiso, we advocate for accessible life skills education regardless of economic status. Our training is facilitated through two distinct centres:
1. Eve-olve: This initiative partners with both private and public-sector organizations to address issues related to women's emotional well-being and overall wellness.
2. Fortune Foundation: This program focuses on empowering high school students by enhancing their skills in Financial Literacy, Ethical Decision Making, and Business Management.
Beyond Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Is Not the Only Cancer Women Need to Know About
Here is a question worth asking – How much do we know about the other cancers that can affect us?
Think about it. We know when our favourite supermarket is having a sale, we remember birthdays, keep track of school activities and somehow manage to know what's happening in everyone else's lives. But how much attention do we give to understanding our own health?
Cervical cancer, for example, affects the lower part of the uterus, known as the cervix. What makes this cancer particularly important to talk about is that most cases are linked to persistent infection with certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Vaccination and appropriate screening can help prevent many cases. Yet how many of us know the difference between an HPV test and a Pap smear, or when we should be screened?
Then there's ovarian cancer, which can be particularly difficult to recognise because some of its symptoms seem so ordinary. Persistent bloating, feeling full unusually quickly, abdominal discomfort or changes in bathroom habits can easily be dismissed as digestive problems. Most of us have experienced some of these things at one time or another. The important difference is when symptoms are new, persistent or unusual for us.
Uterine or endometrial cancer affects the lining of the uterus. One of its most important warning signs is abnormal vaginal bleeding, particularly bleeding after menopause. Yet some women may dismiss unexpected bleeding as just another hormonal change. Bleeding after menopause should always be checked.
What about colorectal cancer? We don't often think of it as a women's cancer, but it affects women too. Changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss or persistent abdominal discomfort are things worth discussing with a healthcare professional. Screening can also help detect some changes before cancer develops.
Lung cancer is another one we tend to associate mainly with smoking. While smoking is the biggest risk factor, people who have never smoked can develop lung cancer too. A persistent cough, coughing up blood or unexplained breathlessness should never simply be ignored.
Now, before we all start worrying about every ache, pain or unusual feeling, here's something important to remember: Having a symptom doesn't automatically mean you have cancer. Many of these symptoms can be caused by other, less serious conditions. The point isn't to panic. It's to recognise when something is unusual and seek medical advice rather than making assumptions.
One Cancer Test Doesn't Check for Everything
This is something many of us may not realise. There isn't one routine test that checks for every type of cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors, warning signs and screening methods. Some have effective screening programmes, while others do not have reliable routine screening tests for people without symptoms.
That is why it's important to have conversations with healthcare professionals about our age, family history, personal risks and which screenings may be appropriate for us. We shouldn't wait for symptoms before having those conversations. We spend so much time looking after other people, meeting deadlines and making sure everything around us is running smoothly. Surely our own health deserves some of that attention?
Awareness doesn't mean being afraid of every disease. It means having enough knowledge to make informed decisions about our health.
Breast Cancer
Knowing Your Body Could Make a Difference
Breast awareness isn't about diagnosing yourself. It's about noticing changes and knowing when to seek professional advice.
Your breasts don't have to look or feel exactly the same every day. Hormonal changes, age, pregnancy, breastfeeding and other factors can all affect how they look and feel. What matters is knowing what is normal for you and paying attention when something changes. A change does not automatically mean cancer. Many breast changes are caused by conditions that are not cancerous. However, a new or unusual change should be checked by a healthcare professional rather than being ignored or self-diagnosed.
A New Lump or Thickening
A new lump or area of thickening in the breast or armpit is one of the changes that should be assessed. People sometimes describe breast cancer lumps as hard, firm or less mobile than the surrounding tissue. However, there is no reliable way to identify a cancerous lump simply by how it feels. Some breast cancers may feel soft, tender or painful, while some benign lumps can feel quite firm.
Breast tissue can also naturally feel lumpy, particularly around hormonal changes and menstruation. The important thing is to pay attention to a new, persistent or noticeably different lump or area of thickening and have it assessed.
Changes in Size, Shape or Appearance
It is completely normal for one breast to be slightly different from the other. What deserves attention is a new or unexplained change in the size or shape of one breast. This might include a new swelling, bulge, distortion or other change that wasn't there before. A breast that suddenly becomes swollen, feels unusually heavy or changes noticeably in appearance should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
Skin Changes
Pay attention to new changes in the skin of the breast, including:
- Dimpling or puckering
- Persistent redness
- Scaling or flaking
- Thickening of the skin
- Changes in texture
- Swelling
One possible appearance is sometimes described as "peau d'orange", meaning the skin develops a texture that resembles the surface of an orange. These changes can have several causes, including infections and other non-cancerous conditions, but persistent or unexplained changes should be checked.
Nipple Changes
If your nipples have always been flat or inverted, that may simply be normal for you. A new change, however, deserves attention. This can include a nipple that was previously pointing outward and suddenly becomes inverted or changes direction. Unusual nipple discharge should also be assessed, particularly if it occurs without squeezing the nipple, comes from only one breast, or is clear or bloody.
Changes such as persistent crusting, scaling or sores around the nipple or areola should also be checked. In some cases, these changes can be associated with a rare type of breast cancer called Paget's disease of the breast.
But Here's Something Important...
You cannot determine whether a breast change is cancer simply by looking at it or feeling it.
Many non-cancerous breast conditions can cause symptoms that look or feel similar to breast cancer. For example:
- Fibroadenomas are common benign breast lumps that can feel firm and may move under the skin.
- Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can appear suddenly and may feel firm or cause pain and swelling.
- Mastitis and other infections can cause redness, warmth, swelling and pain.
- Hormonal changes can cause breast tenderness, thickening and temporary lumps, particularly around menstruation.
This is why the answer is not to panic when you notice a change, but it also isn't to assume that it is nothing. Get it checked.
Early Detection Matters
If a breast change does turn out to be cancer, finding it at an earlier stage can provide more opportunities for effective treatment and can improve outcomes. Early detection does not mean that every change will be cancer, and it does not mean that cancer can always be cured simply because it is found early. What it does mean is that we give ourselves the best opportunity to understand what is happening and to receive appropriate care as soon as possible.
So don't diagnose yourself. Don't panic. Don't ignore something simply because you are afraid of what it might mean. If you notice something unusual, get it checked. Breast awareness isn't about living in fear of cancer. It's about knowing your body well enough to notice when something has changed and giving yourself the opportunity to find out what is happening.
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you!
Call or text us on: +263 (0) 784 457 367
4 Kirkaldy Road, Pomona, Harare, Zimbabwe
Hours of Business
Open today | 08:00 am – 04:30 pm |
