Fight against breast cancer: Move beyond awareness campaigns
Stakeholders at the 6th Annual General Meeting of the Breast Society of Ghana (BSoG) have called for urgent action to move the fight against breast cancer beyond awareness campaigns, toward practical solutions that make care more affordable, accessible, and compassionate—especially for underserved women.
They emphasised that tackling cost barriers, expanding screening and treatment facilities, and addressing stigma must now be top priorities if Ghana was to reduce preventable deaths from breast cancer.
The conference, held on the theme: “Advanced Breast Cancer – The Underserved Majority: Challenges and Opportunities”, brought together policymakers, clinicians, researchers and civil society groups.
Survival rates
Opening the conference in Accra yesterday (August 21), the President of BSoG, Dr Josephine Nsaful, said advanced breast cancer continued to dominate cases seen in hospitals across the country, with many women reporting late, often because of fear, stigma, or limited education, which made treatment more difficult and survival rates lower.
“We cannot continue to normalise advanced breast cancer in Ghana. Too many women face treatment that is more complex, more costly, and less effective because they arrive late.
"It is time to close the gap between what we know and what we practice by strengthening early detection, building local expertise, and ensuring that help is available closer to where women live,” she said.
She also cautioned that without deliberate investment in infrastructure and training, Ghana risked falling further behind in the fight against breast cancer.
Dr Nsaful explained that the shortage of oncology specialists, limited diagnostic equipment continued to put women at a disadvantage.
“Every advanced case we see is a reminder of the gaps in our system. We need to equip our regional hospitals, train more professionals, and make treatment financially accessible if we want to give women a real chance at survival," Dr Nsaful said.
Commitment
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, underscored the government’s commitment to tackling the challenge head-on.
“Care becomes more difficult and less effective in advanced stages, which is why the ministry is focusing on three pillars: access, affordability, and compassion,” she said.
According to her, expanded coverage of breast cancer treatment under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund would help reduce out-of-pocket expenses and make care more equitable.
She, therefore, appealed to health professionals to complement the government’s efforts by building trust with communities and encouraging early reporting.
“We must remove the fear that stops women from walking into hospitals.
We must treat every patient with dignity and urgency,” she said.
Progress hindrance
For his part, the Chief of Dzorwulu Ablemkpe, Nii Noi Dowuona Akosen I, reminded participants that culture, silence and stigma still stand in the way of progress.
He said many women avoided hospitals, turning instead to unproven remedies, because they feared embarrassment or discrimination.
“In our culture, the pain of one person affects us all, the loss of one weakens the whole.
“We, as traditional leaders, must mobilise our people, break the silence, and make conversations about breast health as normal as talking about farming or business.
Seeking medical help is not a weakness; it is a life path," he noted.
As part of the conference, the BSoG also launched a book documenting its journey, achievements, and ongoing efforts in the fight against breast cancer.
