Breast cancer claimed 570,000 lives worldwide in 2015

• Some staff of Madina Polyclinic Kekele pose with officials after the programme

Drawing inspiration from the adage “a healthy mind in a healthy body”, Ghanaians have been advised to take breast screening seriously because that is the best way to stay healthy and promote long life.

They are to consider changes in their bodies as threat to good health, therefore, and do regular checks at the hospital.

The La Nkwantanang Medina Municipal Health Director, Dr Mrs Priscilla Anima Opoku who addressed a breast cancer awareness seminar at the Madina Polyclinic Kekele in Accra, asked the citizenry to take breast cancer screening seriously since the disease had claimed many lives.

“Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide, accounting for approximately 570,000 deaths in 2015. Over 1.5 million women (25% of all women with cancer) are diagnosed with breast cancer every year throughout the year,” she said.

She asked people to visit the hospital whenever they identified the following symptoms in their breasts; lump, differences in the shape, sizes and colour.
Dr Anima Opoku advised men not to be excluded from the screening but embrace the campaign and encourage their wives to do likewise since that was the only way they could be saved.

A Senior Medical Officer at the Madina Polyclinic Kekele, DrOforiYeboah said the three pillars of the disease were health promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive breast cancer management.

She emphasised that the disease was curable when detected early so people should report at the hospital promptly for the necessary attention.

The Madina Polyclinic Kekele Administrator, Mr Peter Gagah, called on patients to report at the hospital whenever they identified any change in their bodies, and warned patients to desist from going to churches for prayers instead of going to the hospital.

Madam YaTutuwa and AgatharAsare of the Department of Wellness Clinic who took turns to educate the public said visual breast examination could be done either in the virtical or horizontal way, and that it should be carried out with the aid of a mirror, the correct position one ought to adopt, the correct posture of the body and head among others.

Ms Comfort OdeiAkua of Beautiful Beneath, briefed participants on the best bra sizes they must wear, the type of bra suitable for nursing mothers and the type specifically made for patients who have had their breasts cut.

Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Ambassador,Mr Blaise Ackon, a staff of the polyclinic said 4,650 yearly diagnoses of the disease was worrying because many of the patients could not survive.

He, therefore, advised participants not to restrict breast cancer screening to the month of October but throughout the year.

By Raymond Kyekye