Nearly 70% of breast cancer patients in Ghana are diagnosed when the disease is already at an advanced stage, health experts have warned.
Late detection is contributing to thousands of deaths each year, while breast cancer accounts for about 16% of all cancer cases in the country.
An estimated 4,650 to 5,000 new cases are recorded annually. Specialist obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Roland Paaga said earlier diagnosis and prompt treatment were essential to reducing the number of deaths.
He was speaking during a free breast screening and health education programme organised by the Adamus Ladies Association as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Dr Paaga urged both women and men to seek medical advice quickly if they noticed any unusual change in the breast.
“The only way we can bring these numbers down is through early detection. Once you feel there is something in your breast and you report it on time, we will investigate it,” he said.
He stressed that finding a lump or another change did not automatically mean a person had breast cancer. However, he said a medical assessment was needed to determine the cause.
Where cancer is suspected, further tests, including a biopsy, can confirm the diagnosis and allow treatment to start at an early stage.
“If people report early or practise self-breast examination when they feel something and report to us early, we are confident the numbers will come down,” Dr Paaga said.
He also listed smoking and excessive alcohol consumption among the risk factors linked to breast cancer, and advised people who took part in those habits to stop.
The public should make breast checks part of their regular health routine rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe before seeking care, he added.
Mrs Hannah Chemel, president of the Adamus Ladies Association, also encouraged women to consult medical professionals whenever they detected anything unusual.
“If you feel anything unusual in your breast, it doesn’t automatically mean it is breast cancer, but the best option is to visit the hospital for a check-up,” she said.
She said improving awareness and access to screening could help reduce fear and encourage women to seek treatment sooner.
Men also have an important role in tackling breast cancer, according to Kaku Bennett, corporate affairs representative of Adamus Resources Limited.
He called on men to support their partners, relatives and other women by encouraging them to attend screening.
“Men should support women by encouraging them to go for screening. They must actively assist women to ensure they get checked early, because early detection saves lives,” he said.
The screening and education programme is part of the Adamus Ladies Association’s efforts to increase awareness and promote early detection in the community.
Health experts continue to emphasise that early reporting, regular breast checks and timely treatment can significantly improve outcomes for people with breast cancer.
By Ebenezer Atiemo
