Seek regular medical care to check breast cancer

The President of Breast Care International, Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, has advised women, especially those with a family history of breast cancer, to take good care of themselves and seek regular medical care.

Dr Mrs Wiafe-Addai stated this at a press conference in Accra recently ahead of this year’s Walk Against Breast Cancer.

She said the overall incidence of breast cancer across the world was on the rise, but the  difference between the situation in the developed and the developing world was that while many people were dying from the disease in the developing world the situation was different  in the developed world.

“This is because in the developed world the disease is diagnosed early unlike the situation in our part of the world where people do not report early. We still do not know the exact cause of the disease, but we know that lifestyle changes have a role to play,” she said, adding it was incumbent upon all to check their diet since reports had mentioned processed meat as a cause of cancer.

 Caution

Dr Wiafe-Addai cautioned women against robbing certain creams on their breasts, adding that creams written in languages not understood by the user should be avoided.

She said it was unfortunate that some people tend to stigmatise breast cancer patients, because they thought the disease was caused by witchcraft, a curse or was  a death sentence.

She, however, explained that the exact cause of the disease was unknown and that it was up to everyone to demystify the disease for people to know that it was not their fault they had it.