Features
Breast Cancer rate on the rise!!!
Worldwide report indicates that Breast cancer is one of the diseases that is causing alarming mortalities with an estimate of over 2.3 million cases recorded globally in the year 2020 (WHO).
Research has shown that Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women. Although men also get affected with the disease – it’s estimated that one per cent of cases recorded worldwide (WHO) were reported by males.
It has also been estimated that over 685,000 women died from Breast Cancer in the year 2020 (WHO). Additional statistical report has revealed that, at the end of the year 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago.
While breast cancer rates are higher among women in more developed countries, they have lower mortality rates due to the fact that Breast Cancer cases are detected in the early stages and immediately holistic treatment is given with effective continuity of care even to the involvement of a psychologist (good support system) which is very much key.
However, in low and middle-income countries like Ghana, breast cancer mortality rates are significantly higher though the prevalence is lower as compared to the developed countries.
The reason for the soaring mortalities of breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa specifically Ghana, is partly associated with people’s erroneous beliefs of the disease. Other significant factors such as cost of treatment, accessibility to screening machines, irregular education and publicity of the disease are issues which need to be addressed immediately.
Unfortunately, about 60-70 per cent patients seek for medical attention at the very late stage of the disease where little or nothing can be done for them. Sadly, this is one of the factors that is causing defeat in our quest to reduce deaths amongst breast cancer patients.
Narrowing the discourse to our immediate environment Ghana specifically, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, our main referral centre has the following statistics on Breast Cancer cases.
In the year 2018, 400 new cases were recorded. Out of that, 2.4 per cent were found to be males while the remaining 97.6 per cent were females. Also, out of 2,260 cumulative cases studied over five years, 1,021 people died from the disease.
Isn’t it sad that, just within five years, more than 1,000 souls perished because they probably failed to seek for medical attention at the early stage of their sickness?
Or possibly, they were not self-aware of what was happening to them?
Hitherto, the age group that was mostly affected was between 40 and 49 years.
Surprisingly the age bracket keeps reducing gradually with incidences occurring between 25 and 29 years due to adaptation of the western and sedentary lifestyle.
Breast Cancer as we all know has no known cause but there are risk factors that can precipitate it.
Sex: The fact that one is a female automatically puts you at risk of Breast Cancer because women have more breast tissue than men do, hence the increased risk of getting breast cancer.
Age: Usually women above 45 years are prone to Breast Cancer but now the age bracket is reducing. Now, there are records of Breast Cancer patients between the ages of 25 and 29 as a result of westernisation in terms of diet and sedentary lifestyle
Exposure to Estrogen Hormone: Early menarche (first occurrence of menstruation) latemenopause, nulliparity (when a woman has never given birth to a child, or has never carried a pregnancy) and giving birth after age 30.
All of the above situations cause increased exposure to estrogen hormone which can cause Breast Cancer.
Family History: When one’s aunt, mother, sister, grandmother has had Breast Cancer, it puts one at a risk of getting the disease. However, recent medical investigations posit that, it is when a first-degree family member gets the disease, that can put one at a risk.
Interestingly, it has also been discovered that when any primary male relative, has been diagnosed with even prostate cancer, it can put you at risk of getting Breast Cancer.
Hence, the need to be keen with regular screening, visiting women wellness clinics, and the need to conduct personalise routine breast examination, etc.
Also, increased fatty diet, obesity, alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise; these are but some of the known risk factors that can precipitate Breast Cancer.
Nonetheless, there are many ways to reduce the incidence of an individual getting breast cancer.
Keep your weight in check, by being physically active and undertaking regular exercises.
It’s also important to incorporate fruits and vegetables in your diet.
At risk persons should avoid the following: Alcohol (Zero is Best), forsake smoking, avoid birth control pills, particularly after age 35 or if you smoke. Almost every woman is at risk of getting Breast Cancer hence the need to adopt the best lifestyle as a preventative measure.
Breast feeding is also another sure way to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer as a woman. Hence women are encouraged to breastfeed their infants, especially working-class mothers. There is this notion that breast feeding is old fashioned. Sadly, some women now resort to formula feeding for their infants which they think is fashionable and trendy.
Now, let’s consider Breast Cancer myths. Myths are misbeliefs or false ideas, so breast cancer myths are false beliefs that people have concerning breast cancer. In our Ghanaian society, people have the mindset that breast cancer is a “cursed” disease. The unfortunate belief is that, a person may have offended the gods, hence the repercussion of their actions.
Again, there is a belief of witches “buying” the sickness in the spiritual realm to infect innocent people. Due to this notion, most people seek spiritual help than going for medical treatment.
Hence, 70 per cent of cases recorded at Korle-Bu report at very late stages due to social stigma of this disease leaving little or nothing to be done for the patient except palliative care.
Other myths concerning breast cancer are wearing a brassiere can cause Breast Cancer. The usage of underarm antiperspirant, carrying your cell phone in your brassiere and many others are sheerly make beliefs that are clearly untrue.
In light of these misconception and superstitious beliefs, Breast Cancer awareness creation remains one of the effective ways to educate and screen people against possible Breasts Cancer.
October is the month set aside worldwide for breast cancer awareness celebration termed Pink October. This pink month celebration is catching on well with Ghanaians. The good news is that, many organisations have sprung up the quest to fight this vile disease called Breast Cancer.
One of such is the Ladybits Health and Wellness Foundation which is determined to help build the “Quintessential Woman‚ in our contemporary Ghanaian society. The organisation reaches out to all women found in various endeavours especially the rural and less deprived areas where we educate them on breast cancer with effective screening and diagnosis of the disease.
Our aim is to empower women especially in deprived areas to be in charge of their health and take precautionary measures where necessary. In the end, I reiterate that Breast Cancer is very treatable especially when detected early.
Some aspects of the treatment of Breast Cancer is covered by NHIS. In addition, members of GNAT have access to free medical treatment of all cancer diseases including breast cancer.
Nevertheless, I look forward to a time where the government and for that matter NHIS will absorb the full treatment cost of Breast Cancer so that the screenings that we do in the rural areas will be more impactful and effective
By Dr. Victoria Partey-Newman
Conflict at work is more common than you might think. According to 2022 research by The Myers-Briggs Company, more than a third of the workforce reports dealing with conflict often, very often, or all the time in the workplace. The same report found that managers spend an average of four hours per week dealing with conflict, and nearly 25 per cent of people think their managers handle conflict poorly or very poorly.
Addressing a dispute might feel tense or awkward, but resolving the conflict is typically well worth it in the long run. Whether you’re trying to mediate conflict between colleagues or are directly involved, here are seven steps you can take to manage workplace conflict.
1. Don’t put it off
Facing conflict head-on is hard. However, waiting too long to address it can negatively impact your emotional well-being, focus, and the entire office environment. If you’re feeling angry, letting that emotion fester can also escalate it over time. This can make you less responsive to other points of view and make it harder to resolve the issue.
The sooner you can address the conflict, the better it will be for you, the person you disagree with, and your entire team.
2. Learn all you can about the problem
It’s important to determine the type of conflict you’re dealing with. Begin by considering the cause of the conflict. For example, ask yourself whether someone said something that upset you or if you have emotions of anger and resentment that stemmed from something that happened.
Then try to identify if it’s a task, relationship, value, or team conflict. Once you know what type of conflict it is, you can work to resolve it with specific tactics for that situation.
If you skip this step, you may waste time or escalate the situation further by trying to address issues irrelevant to the real conflict.
3. Actively listen
Listen attentively when people share their side of the story. Active listening is one of the most valuable professional skills you can possess. This type of listening involves not only hearing what the other person is saying but also listening to understand their point of view.
No matter your role in conflict, it’s easy to begin sharing your opinion with little regard for the other people involved. However, it’s important to learn about all sides of a disagreement to make well-informed decisions before drawing conclusions.
To reach a resolution, you must step back and prioritize listening over talking. Ultimately, that will encourage the other person to do the same when it’s your turn to speak. –source: betterup.com
Today, I focus on the Temple Of Praise Ministries International (TOP Church) in Helsinki, as I continue my description of personalities or institutions and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The TOP Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments that must be made known to the public. 
Some history
The Church was established in Finland in September 2016. Since its inception, it has steadily grown both spiritually and numerically, by the grace of God, as disclosed to me by Mr Matthew Anini Twumasi, the Presiding Elder of TOP’s branch in Finland. The TOP Church has other branches across Africa, Europe, and America.
The Church in Finland was founded with a vision to create a welcoming and dynamic community where people could experience God’s love and grace (see, www.topchurchfinland.org). According to Presiding Elder Matthew, the TOP Church operates within a unique environment where Christianity coexists with what is seen as a largely secular society.
Despite this, he submits, there are significant opportunities for outreach, unity, and demonstrating the love of Christ through service and community engagement.
Activities
Church services at the TOP Church are typically held on Sundays for the main worship. In addition, there are mid-week prayer sessions, Saturday prayer services, and a half-night service held on the last Friday of every month. “We also organise quarterly programs”, Elder Matthew added.
His impression of the Church so far has been positive. “It is a vibrant and welcoming community where members are committed to worship, fellowship, and supporting one another in faith”, he stated.
In sum, Elder Matthew said the Church continues to grow by God’s grace. “We remain hopeful and committed to spreading the Gospel, strengthening the faith of our members, and making a positive impact in society”, he continued.
Achievements
The TOP Church has a number of achievements and achievements. Some of the strengths include strong community bonds, cultural diversity, and deep commitment to spiritual growth.
I also remember that during the COVID-19 period, I heard that the TOP Church was one such bodies that hugely supported its members and others to cope with the situation.
According to Elder Matthew, the challenges facing the church include “adapting to cultural differences, engaging the younger generation, expanding outreach in a secular society, and securing a permanent place of worship”.
Role in the Ghanaian community in Finland
The TOP Church plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the TOP Church is a religious body for Ghanaian migrants in Finland and other nationalities who want to worship with them for diversity and better intercultural and multicultural understanding.
The Church also has mechanisms in place to support its members who are bereaved as a way to commiserate with them in times of death and funerals.
The Ghanaian community has played a vital role in the growth of the Church. Their strong sense of fellowship, dedication to worship, and active participation have helped build a solid foundation and attract others to the ministry, according to Elder Matthew.
Integration
By its activities, the TOP Church is helping to ensure integration of its members well into the Finish society.
This is important since social interaction and citizens’ well-being are an important part of the integration process.
The role of migrant associations and groups such as TOP Church acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
