There is no doubt that breast cancer is one of the most topical medical adversaries the world is facing today. Perhaps this is why in Ghana, the whole of October is recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Obviously, the purpose is to increase the early detection of the disease by encouraging women as well as men to be aware of the status of their breasts and report any changes to their doctor or health facility.

Understanding the different testing options means that more people will gain access to screening and fewer people will die from the disease.

Cancer awareness can also lead to people making healthier lifestyle choices.

Certainly, awareness seems to have risen, and each year more and more attention is being given to the issue of breast cancer.

Research has proven that the disease is endemic in women and rarely in men. It is as a result of this that The Spectator, Your Weekend Companion, embarked on the month-long breast cancer campaign to create more awareness of its traumatic and potentially devastating effect on women, particularly.

The Spectator Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, under the theme “Life Before and After Breast Cancer: A Future of Positivity and Hope”, educated the public on early signs and symptoms of breast cancer; on preventive measures, diagnostic and treatment centres; on the measures put in place for early detection; about the various options available for cure; and to assist in the management of patients with breast cancer, among others.

There were four events for the breast cancer crusade, and these included the unveiling of the campaign at the Kaneshie Market Complex, which houses about 10,000 traders; free breast screening at the market; talk on breast cancer at Labone Senior High School, which attracted many other students from Accra; while stories and pictures of the events were carried in all the editions of The Spectator throughout the month of October.

To ensure extensive publication of the campaign, articles on breast cancer written by health experts and other authors with knowledge of the disease were featured in the weekly newspaper also.

Your uniquely feminist health-conscious brand, The Spectator, and its socially responsible organisation, the New Times Corporation, publishers of our newspaper as well as Ghanaian Times, would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to commend partners in the campaign — World Health Organisation (lead partners), Unichem Ghana Group, Kaneshie Market Complex, Kaneshie Medical Centre, Kaneshie Polyclinic, Ladybits Health and Wellness Clinic, and Chizzy Pizza — for their immense support, which went a long way to make the crusade a big success.

At the end of it all, about 125 traders who were suspected to have the disease after the screening were referred to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital; many students in Accra who trooped to the Labone Senior High School to listen to the talk on breast cancer expressed their readiness to educate others on the disease; and the extensive coverage of the campaign had created a huge public awareness.

Consequently, The Spectator wishes to thank the public in general for their moral support to enable the campaign to end successfully.