Breast cancer awareness campaign intensified

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease is held during the month. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the necessary steps to detect the disease in its early stages and to encourage others to do same.
Awareness creation on the disease was intensified during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month this year, with a 10-kilometre walk in Accra organised by the  Breast Care International, a non-governmental organisation.

President John Dramani Mahama, students, members of religious groups and keep-fit clubs took part in the walk.

The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama, also launched the Organisation of African Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) project in Koforidua to spearhead the mobilisation of Ghanaians, educate communities and advocate for more attention and resources to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV, breast and cervical cancers in Ghana.

The President of Breast Care International, Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, followed up the health walk with a breast cancer sensitisation and screening exercise for the staff of the Ministry of Transport in Accra.

Risk posed by alcohol intake

Speaking at the programme, Dr Wiafe Addai, who is also a breast surgeon, warned that women who drunk a lot of alcohol risked getting breast cancer, and added that although there had not been any proven primary cause of breast cancer, it had been identified that taking in lot of alcohol was one of the risk factors to develop the disease.

She said other risk factors of breast cancer included hereditary, obesity, women who gave birth after 33 years and women who had never conceived.

In addition, Dr Wiafe Addai said, women who had long menstrual cycle also risked getting breast cancer and added that, the fact that one was a woman also made it possible for her to get the disease.

She indicated that the rise in breast cancer cases in Ghana was due largely to some myths and misconceptions about the disease.

According to her, most of the risk factors were natural occurrences which could not  be prevented, however, early detention and prompt action could save the life of the victim.

“Breast cancer does not come with any pain, especially in the beginning. The pain starts when it begins to spread to other organs such as the brain, lungs and liver of the body”, she stated.

Early diagnosis and treatment

Dr Wiafe Addai said breast cancer had become a national concern which needed to be addressed properly through awareness creation and screening of women.

She encouraged women, especially those working in corporate organisations, to take time off their busy schedule and go for check-ups.

She also recommended that women do self-examination at least every month and also report any abnormal discharge from the breast to the hospital for immediate treatment.

The Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, urged women to be cautious of their breast since breast cancer was a deadly disease.

She also encouraged women to educate themselves on breast cancer so as not to fall victim to myths and hearsay.

In another development, Dr Maritha Van Der Merwe, Medical Officer of SOS  International at a medical outreach programme organised by Golden Star Resources Company, in collaboration with the ladies club of the company at  Bogoso in the Western Region as part of its corporate  social responsibility, said statistics available indicated that breast cancer is the leading cancer case in Ghana.

Screening programme

The free and confidential breast screening programme was aimed at sensitising people of the community on breast cancer infection and also to inform, educate and treat breast cancer-related cases among the people.  Dr Merwe described the cases as terrible to all women due to the trauma, pain and neglect by relations when one was affected.

She further advised participants that the tumour could be effectively treated through surgery.

The director in-charge of health in the company,  Ms Caroline Otto, said it was the ultimate goal of the company to serve the community with quality healthcare which had been supported by Golden Star Resources over the years.

She commended management of the company for the initiative to help alleviate the plight of women in the area against the fourth major cause of death in women globally. In all, a total of 345 women participated in the breast screening exercise held at the premises of the Bogoso mines in the Western Region.

Breast cancer - A major killer disease among women

Breast cancer is among the major killer diseases of women all over the world. Every 69 seconds, a woman dies of breast cancer somewhere in the world.

Breast cancer, according to available statistics, is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the sub-saharan Africa and globally the most common cancer among women.

Research has also suggested that young black women in the United Kingdom are more likely than their white counterparts to develop "worse" breast cancer with a poorer prognosis.

A research in the United Kingdom has shown that Africans risk getting the disease in a more aggressive way since they have the same traits??.

More than 2,000 Ghanaians are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and half of the affected women die from the disease.

In all related cancerous cases, 15 per cent are identified as breast cancer and 40 per cent of women’s cancer. Relatively ages of developing cancer is younger in Ghana than in the USA. In Ghana, almost 50 per cent of identified cancer cases are usually in its advanced stages.

However medical treatment and screening has shown that early detection is best for treatment to avoid further damage to the patient.

Ghana has been ranked 10th in Africa for breast cancer burden and breast cancer cases as the leading malignancy.

The President of Breast Care International, Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has cautioned women against herbal treatment which sometimes worsens the cases of victims.

Breast cancer in men

In Ghana about one to three per cent of men have breast cancer, Dr Addai stated, and added that the percentage was low despite the fact that they also risked getting the disease.

The Golden Star Resources Company, in collaboration with the Ladies Club of the company at  Bogoso in the Western Region, has organised a medical outreach programme as part of its corporate  social responsibility.

Madam Maki Iddrissu, President of the Ladies Club of the company noted that they were committed towards the improvement of the lives of girls and women in the operational areas of the Golden Star Resources in education, healthcare delivery and socialising  for development.   Managing Director of Golden Star Resources limited, Mr Neale Laffin, congratulated the ladies club of the company for their initiative to help improve the lives and wellbeing of women in the community through breast cancer screening and treatment programmes.

He further noted that the initiative had enhanced the image of the company’s  and that all funds raised would be donated to the Ghana Breast Care International accounts to support women in need.

By Salomey Appiah & Emmanuel Tawiah Forson/Daily Graphic/Ghana