Ghana Ranked 10th For Breast Cancer: 2,062 women were diagnosed in 2010

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From: Alhaji Bashiru Zakari, Kumasi

Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer

It has now been established that in every 68 seconds, somewhere around the world, a woman dies from breast cancer.

In 2010, over 1,300,000 women died from breast cancer globally, and 2,062 women were diagnosed with the disease in Ghana, a country which ranks 10th in burden of disease inAfrica according to Globacan sources. However, breast cancer can be cured if there is an early diagnosis.

It was in the light of this that, over five thousand women have been taken through Clinical Breast and Eye screening exercise inKumasi.

The screening was done at the premises of Hello Fm a popular radio station, as part of 2012 Mothers Day celebration. The programme was organized jointly by the Breast Care International (BCI) a leading Breast Cancer Awareness Creation and Research Organization inGhana, an NGO, and Peace andLoveHospital, as part of their voluntary services being rendered every year to women.

The occasion was also to sensitize and create more awareness about the need for regular breast screening for early detection of cancers.

Lecturing more than 5,000 women earlier at the premises, Dr. (Mrs.) Beatrice Wiafe Addai, emphasized that the good thing about breast cancer was that, early detection was key to its treatment and that when cancers were detected early in the breast people could be treated with minimal surgery, drugs, and radiotherapy without having their breast removed, since most women run away from mastectomy (removal of the breast).

“It is not all cases that will result to Mastectomy, adding that reporting the disease late allowed the cancer to spread,” she said.

Dr. Beatrice Wiafe, a renowned and extremely versatile Ghanaian General Surgeon and Specialist in Breast Pathology, is the President of Breast Care International (BCI) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Peace and Love Hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, said so far evidence showed that Breast Cancer was more prevalent among women aged 35 to 45.

She lamented that, due to inadequate information and education on breast cancer in the country, even women who detected the disease early mostly prefer using concoctions or herbal drugs, or hide in the prayer camps.

“Prayer camps are important but should be used to supplement the treatment,” She emphasized.

Dr. Wiafe Addai interacted with the women during an open forum, and used the occasion to announce the fourth coming Susan G. Komen Ghana Race Walk for the Cure of Breast Cancer inKumasion Wednesday, May 25, 2012.

She called on the women to participate fully in the walk which is expected to attract more than 20.000 participants both young and old to create awareness of the existence of the disease.

She said the Walk and Race would start at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, through some principal streets ofKumasi, and during which they would raise awareness, by providing information on the disease.

On his part the General Manager of Hello Fm, Mr. Seth Odei Asare commended BCI and Peace and Love Hospitals Medical Team for their voluntary services.

He advised women not to delay whenever they experience new sensations in their breast, urging them to report to the hospital for proper treatment to save their lives.

Two breast cancer survivors, Madam Vivian Gyasi Sarfo and Madam Rahimatu Quaye, who were with the team, advised the gathering, citing their own case as an example.

More women were identified with breast problems including breast cancer with three minor surgeries during the exercise.

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