WOMEN have been cautioned against dismissing persistent breast lumps or unusual breast changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding as normal effects of lactation, as such symptoms could be signs of breast cancer.

The President of Breast Care International, Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, said although breastfeeding could lower a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, it did not provide complete protection against the disease.

She urged women who experienced persistent breast changes to seek medical attention promptly rather than wait until they stopped breastfeeding.

“Breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, but lower risk does not mean no risk,” Dr Wiafe Addai said.

She was speaking at a webinar organised by the West African Journalists for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (WAJESHA) for journalists across West Africa.

The webinar, on the theme, “Breast Cancer and Breastfeeding in West Africa: Understanding the Data, Trends, Risks and Best Practices,” examined breast cancer trends, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment challenges in the sub-region.

Dr Wiafe Addai cautioned women against assuming that persistent breast changes were caused by milk production, mastitis or blocked milk ducts without proper medical assessment.

“A woman should not be told to wait until breastfeeding ends before investigating a suspicious symptom. Persistent breast changes need assessment,” she stressed.

She said delays in seeking medical attention could affect treatment outcomes, with stigma, misinformation, treatment costs, long distances to health facilities and limited access to specialist services contributing to late diagnosis and treatment in West Africa.

Citing data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Wiafe Addai said Ghana recorded an estimated 5,026 new breast cancer cases and 2,491 deaths in 2022.

She said breast cancer incidence in Western Africa was estimated at 41.6 cases per 100,000 women, with  22.3 deaths per 100,000 women.

The figures, she said, reinforced the need for stronger public education and early detection, particularly in communities where misconceptions and limited access to healthcare could delay treatment.

Dr Wiafe Addai urged journalists to use their platforms to dispel myths and encourage women to seek medical care early.

She said beliefs that breast cancer was caused by witchcraft, could not be treated or that surgery caused the disease to spread continued to contribute to delays in seeking care.

On diagnosis, Dr Wiafe Addai said ultrasound was often the first imaging test for women who developed a palpable breast lump during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

She stressed that necessary diagnostic imaging should not be withheld because a woman was breastfeeding.

Women diagnosed with breast cancer, she said, should receive individualised advice on breastfeeding because some treatments could affect their ability to breastfeed.

She, however, noted that some breast cancer survivors could breastfeed after treatment, depending on their circumstances and the type of treatment received.

Dr Wiafe Addai called for accurate and evidence-based reporting on breast cancer and urged journalists to highlight barriers to early diagnosis and treatment.

She reiterated that while breastfeeding had significant health benefits and could reduce the risk of breast cancer, it did not eliminate the possibility of developing the disease.