Declare Breast Cancer a pandemic – Health Expert

With five Ghanaian women dying daily of breast cancer, experts say it is safe to declare the canker a pandemic.

Every year, 4000 breast cancer cases are recorded in Ghana, of which 2000 do not survive the canker.

According to Abigail Olympio, an oncology nurse resident at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), the deaths could be attributed to late diagnosis.

“About 70% of the recorded cases report rather late or advance to the hospital,” she lamented during a speech at the launch of Meena Breast Cancer Awareness Project.

According to her, the alarming rate of breast cancer-associated deaths is enough to declare the canker a pandemic

She said women in their early 30s are at a higher risk of developing a lump in their breasts and, therefore, should have regular screening.

Ms Olympio acknowledged the efforts of the media and health professionals in creating awareness for breast cancer screening every October. Still, she insisted the approach must be revised as studies show a relative shift of cancer burden to women in their early 30s.

“There is the need to target the younger population, who concentrated in the various secondary schools and universities,” she added.

Pledging her department’s commitment to the Meena Breast Cancer Awareness Project, Ms. Olympio said a tailored-made programme had been drawn for younger women more susceptible to cancer.

“It is aimed at building a lifelong culture of breast self-examination and general self-care in the younger generation. This will create a lifelong habit of attentiveness to the breast,” she added.

On her part, Dr. Florence Dedey, Head of the Breast Cancer Unit at the KBTH, stressed the need for self-examination and the importance of early detection to the survival of patients.

“Do not downplay the importance of early detection and periodic self-examination,” she advised.

According to her, even though men are equally susceptible to breast cancer, women are at a higher risk.

“If the breast of a woman is at risk, the entire humanity is at risk too,” she stressed.

Explaining the aim and activities of the project, Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation, Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, noted that the yearly advocacy for the disease is not producing the desired results as many victims are taken by surprise.

“The disease breaks families apart. The cost of treatment involved is huge, and the chance of survival of a patient is narrow, so we have to fight breast cancer every day, not only in October. The yearly advocacy is not sustainable,” he said.

Mr. Kwarteng said apart from the advocacy; breast cancer patients would also be supported financially to undergo treatment under the project.

“We would go to female prisons, villages, towns to drum home the advocacy to do early examination and screening of the breast. The project would be run alongside CCF’s Health Check Series to support patients undergoing treatment,” he noted.

Appealing to all well-meaning Ghanaians and the donor community, Mr Kwarteng asked for support to carry out the philanthropic project.

“I am going to do this till I depart this earth,” he pledged.

The ‘Meena Breast Cancer Awareness’ project was launched in Accra on October 6, 2022, in memory of Mrs Amina Oppong Kwarteng, who died of breast cancer in July 2022.

Donations could be sent to mobile phone number 054 5822 773 to support the project.