Breast cancer deaths high in Ghana
Breast cancer deaths are high in Ghana, with about 2,900 cases being diagnosed annually and at least one of eight women with the disease dying.
Advertisement
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2,000 Ghanaian women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2012, and out of the number, about 1,000 representing 50 per cent of the cases, died, showing an increasing danger of complications for women in Ghana and the whole of Africa.
Screening
To observe this year’s Mother’s Day on May 8, Breast Care International (BCI) and Peace and Love Hospitals (PHLs), were supported by the Despite Group of Companies, Special Ice Mineral Water and the Management of Hello FM, to organise free breast screening for a number of women in Kumasi.
The free screening, the seventh in a series organised by BCI and PHLs to mark the day, was preceded with soul-inspiring songs by local gospel artistes to celebrate the achievements and sacrifices of Ghanaian women and women worldwide.
The medical team, led by Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, the President of BCI and Chief Executive Officer of PLHs, demonstrated to the women proper ways of performing self breast examination.
In a lecture, Dr Wiafe Addai spoke on the signs, symptoms, risk factors, methods of investigation and the available treatment options for breast cancer.
Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast – the most common first sign. Also the woman would usually find the lump in the armpit (axilla), changes in breast shape or size, skin changes and nipple changes, she said.
Dr Wiafe Addai said early detection was key to treatment and cure, and warned that “delay in diagnosis and subsequent treatment could have catastrophic results”.
Other Trending Stories
Some breast cancer survivors also shared their experiences on breast cancer, and urged all women to be conscious of breast cancer and not be scared.
They also advised the women to inform their spouses when they found any abnormalities with their breast and encouraged men to be supportive of women with the condition.
Dr Pedita Adu Kyei Baffour, an Optometrist at the Peace and Love Hospital, educated and screened the people present for eye diseases.