Ghanaians have been advised to prioritise breast cancer screening for early detection and treatment to safeguard their health and lives.

This is because, the number of breast cancer cases is steadily going up and despite the treatment for early detection, many people present their cases at advanced stages of the disease, making it difficult to receive the needed attention.

The Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Professor Dickson Adomako, who gave the advice, also stressed the importance of regular screenings, particularly during the month of October, which had been set aside as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“October is Breast Cancer Month, and we are taking this opportunity to educate people about the effects of breast cancer and how it is affecting the populace, especially women.

"We are encouraging people to go to the hospital and do breast cancer checks so that at the end of the day, they will know their status and be able to get the needed medical attention when needed,” Prof. Adomako noted.

He was speaking at a breast cancer awareness and screening organised by his outfit in collaboration with the Radiological and Nuclear Medicine Research Institute (RANMRI).

Event

The event began with a health walk, which began at GAEC Hospital and continued through Dome Market and Kwabenya, and saw hundreds of participants clad in pink to symbolise their support for the fight against breast cancer.

It was aimed at educating the public on the importance of early detection and treatment of breast cancer while encouraging people to participate in free screenings offered by GAEC and its partners.

Participants were drawn from various parts of Accra, including Dome and surrounding communities, joining health officials and volunteers in spreading the message about early detection.

Throughout the walk, volunteers distributed educational materials and encouraged women to take advantage of the free breast cancer screenings being offered by GAEC and other partner hospitals.

Beyond October

Prof. Adomako added that the awareness campaign extended beyond October for breast cancer. He said GAEC was equally keen on raising awareness on their cancers such as prostate cancer, which affected mainly males and also cervical cancer.

"In November, the focus will shift to prostate cancer, with free screening events planned for men. We are combining these two activities. After October, which is dedicated to breast cancer, November will be for prostate cancer," he noted.

Impactful

Dr Nii Boye Hammond of GAEC Hospital described the walk as highly impactful, sharing that similar outreach efforts had already been held in various markets, where individuals were screened, and some were referred for further examination.

“We picked some things that we thought were symptomatic, and we referred them to hospitals to have further checks,” he said, emphasising that early detection significantly increased the chances of survival.

He continued, "Once it’s caught early, trust me, it’s treatable and we can save more lives."  

Important

Some participants commended the organisers of the event for the initiative, which would benefit the general public.

Akua Mansa Mensah, a participant, said: "This is a great initiative. We appreciate the organisers for bringing the screenings closer to the community. Many people don’t have the time or resources to go to the hospital, so it’s important that we take advantage of this free screening."

Another resident, Kofi Asare, added, “As we have heard, early detection can save lives, so I encourage everyone to show up and be screened. We should not wait until it’s too late."