The Breast Cancer Awareness Month, popularly known as Pinktober, has been launched in Accra, with a call on women to take early action for better outcomes. A Senior Specialist in Radiation and Clinical Oncology at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Mary Ann-Dadzie, revealed that about 5,000 cases of breast cancer are recorded in Ghana every year, with an estimated 2,695 women dying from the disease. She also disclosed that 70 per cent of breast cancer patients present themselves at health facilities at advanced stages, making treatment a challenge.
Dr Ann-Dadzie further stated that the average age at diagnosis was 49, meaning that many of the women affected were in the prime of their lives, building careers and families. She noted that the real enemy in the fight against breast cancer was lateness, as early detection was crucial for effective treatment. The launch of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month was themed “Early action, better outcomes.”
The Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, who launched the initiative, said breast cancer remained the foremost cancer among women in Ghana. She noted that although the disease was less common among men, it also affected them, leading to emotional, social and financial consequences for families. Prof. Ayensu-Danquah emphasized that awareness alone was not enough and that there was a need to turn awareness into action and commitment into health services that save lives.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah mentioned that the country’s response to breast cancer was built around four pillars: prevention, early detection, equitable access to treatment and compassionate care. The initiative was guided by the World Health Organisation’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative, which sought to reduce breast cancer deaths by 2.5 per cent annually. The deputy minister also mentioned fear, stigma, misinformation, cost and distance as some of the barriers that made women delay in seeking care.
The government was strengthening the country’s cancer response through the National Cancer Registry and a revised national cancer strategy. The Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares, was being operationalised to support citizens living with non-communicable diseases, including cancers. This move aimed to provide financial support to patients and improve healthcare outcomes.
The Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Caroline Reindorf Amissah, said her outfit was implementing a breast cancer project in the Ashanti, Northern and Greater Accra regions, in partnership with JHPIEGO, an NGO, with funding from the Pfizer Foundation. The project had equipped healthcare providers with skills to conduct breast clinical examinations and strengthen breast cancer education.
Dr Amissah called on health professionals, communities, workplaces, the media, civil society organisations and development partners to intensify education and promote timely health-seeking behaviour. The WHO Country Director, Dr Fiona Braka, also urged every woman to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and understand the importance of seeking care early when changes were detected.
Key points
- 2,695 women die from breast cancer annually in Ghana
- 5,000 breast cancer cases are recorded yearly in Ghana
- 70% of breast cancer patients present themselves at advanced stages
