About 2,060 women were diagnosed with breast cancer nationwide in 2010 and about 70 per cent of them reported at the hospitals late when the disease had reached an advanced stage to be salvaged.
Dr Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, President of Breast Care International, breast cancer awareness non-governmental organisation, who announced
this, said there were no known causes of the disease.
“It is sad to note that about 70 per cent of breast cancer cases are reported at the hospitals when the situation had deteriorated.
Developed countries now having very low cases of breast cancer cases due to frequent and early screening,” she said.
Dr Wiafe-Addai was speaking to GNA in an interview in Accra on Friday, during a health screening by the Soviet Trained Graduate
Association (SOTGA) for members of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA).
The medical outreach, which formed part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the association, had journalists screened for hepatitis B, hypertension, diabetes and sight problems.
Dr Wiafe-Addai pointed out that multiple infections in the breast had been identified as one of the major causes of the disease, while
women who had children after 33 years and above as well as those with a family history of the disease (genetically) could be infected.
“We have also discovered that women who start menstruating as early as 11 years and ceased menstruating as late as 60 years and
above also have a high risk of getting breast cancer,” she added.
Dr Wiafe-Addai, who is also the Medical Director of Peace and Love Hospitals in Accra and Kumasi and a Breast Cancer Advocate, admonished women to undertake regular checkups as the disease was deadly and could affect their liver, lungs and bones if not treated.
Dr Edward Atter Narh, Medical Coordinator of SOTGA, commended Ghanaian students for enduring the weather conditions in Russia and
undergo training for the benefit of the citizenry.
“Today, there are more than 4,000 Russian trained professionals in Economics, Nuclear Physics, Petro-Chemical Engineering and Medicine
contributing effectively to the country’s socio-economic development,” he said.
Dr Narh who is also the Medical Director of Narh–Bita Hospital, asked Ghanaians to undertake regular exercise and checkups, at least once a year, to avoid late detection of diseases.
He commended the Russian Government for offering yearly scholarships to Ghanaian students to study in that country.
Mr Ransford Tetteh, GJA President, expressed appreciation to SOTGA for rendering medical services to journalists and asked them to take advantage of the opportunity in future and undergo health screening.