Eastern Regional Hospital needs mammogram — Medical Director

The Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua currently needs a mammogram for the detection and treatment of breast cancer which is on the rise in the region.

Currently, the hospital is a referral facility for patients from many district hospitals and other health facilities across the region.

The seriousness of the situation, which is making it almost impossible for breast cancer patients to seek medical treatment at the facility, has compelled the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Arko Akoto-Ampaw to appeal for assistance from the government, philanthropists and other development partners.

Dr Akoto-Ampaw made the startling revelation during a breast cancer awareness campaign organised by the hospital in partnership with Judith Ellen Awuah-Darko Foundation [JEAD] founded by a breast cancer survivor, Judith Ellen Awuah-Darko in Koforidua.

Public Education

According to the medical director, breast cancer is on the rise and as such the hospital urgently needed a mammogram to detect and treat the disease contracted by patients who visited the facility.

Early detection, Dr Akoto-Ampaw indicated, was critical and made it possible for the disease not to spread.

No mammogram

Dr Akoto-Ampaw said despite the unavailability of a mammogram, the hospital had been providing an ultrasound scan of the breast for almost free for patients – a reduction from GHC100 to GHC20 per patient. 

The medical director, who said both males and females including children could contract breast cancer, advised adults to take good care of their breasts to avoid contracting the disease.

He also asked parents to periodically examine the breasts of their sons and daughters for early detection of the disease in their children.

The medical director entreated both men and women to immediately see their doctors when they notice signs on their breasts such as lump, hard knot, swelling or redness as well as darkening or change in size or shape changes in skin, itch, rash on the nipple among others.

Breast examination

He also urged women from age 20 to start undergoing monthly breast cancer self-examination as well as consulting a trained medical professional for clinical breast examination every three years.

The Clinical Director of the hospital, Dr Foster Amponsah-Manu, stated that breast cancer cases were not only on the rise, but patients had been reporting to the facility at the advanced stages, describing the situation as worrying.

That, he indicated, had led to many breast cancer patients losing their lives, a situation which could have been prevented had the patients reported on time for treatment.

Free breast cancer 

Dr Amponsah-Manu advocated for free breast cancer screening to enable patients without the means to undergo the exercise.

He indicated that every year, the hospital, with funding from JEAD Breast Cancer Foundation, had been organising education awareness campaigns for breast cancer survivors to share their experiences.

Breast cancer survivor narration

A breast cancer survivor, Patience Amako, who narrated to the Daily Graphic the circumstances which led to her breast being cut off, appealed to the government as well as other relevant stakeholders to make available a mammogram device at the various hospitals in the region to ensure treatment for cancer patients.

‘’If you get cancer in your breast and your breast is cut off, it does not mean you will die or that is the end of your life,’’ she told the gathering.

Writer’s email: haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh