Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, the founder of Breast Care International (BCI), has raised alarm over the alarming increase in breast cancer cases among women in Ghana.
Expressing her concerns, she highlighted research findings indicating that more than 5000 women are projected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone in the country.
Dr. Wiafe Addai who is also CEO of Peace and Love Hospital stressed on the devastating impact of breast cancer on families and communities, attributing the high mortality rate to factors such as lack of awareness and delayed diagnosis.
She lamented that many women conceal their illness from loved ones, exacerbating the problem.
The surge in breast cancer cases is evident, with statistics showing an increase from approximately 4600 diagnoses in the previous year to over 5000 projected cases for 2024.
“The incidents is on the rise. If up to last year we were having about 4600 women diagnosed of breast cancer , according to globacam we have more than 5000 Ghanaian women who will be diagnosed of breast cancer. So 2024 we are expecting to have more than 5000 Ghanaian women contracting breast cancer. This is unacceptable because we are having more than half of them dying of the disease and so we all have to join in education, awareness, education and stigma” She told Starr FM in an interview in Kwahu Atibie in Eastern Region.
Dr. Wiafe Addai stressed the urgency of addressing this public health crisis through education, awareness campaigns, and destigmatization efforts to increase the survival rate as more than half of the affected person die.
She urged individuals, especially women, to prioritize regular breast self-examinations and clinical screenings every six months to one year.
Additionally, women aged forty and above were advised to undergo mammograms and seek medical attention promptly upon detecting any abnormalities.
“those who came to Kwahu mainly came to have fun. But let them take the message back that they should examine their breast every month. They should take advantage of clinical breast screening that is about every six months or up to one year.”
She added “If you are forty years and above go and have your mamogram wnd when you find any abnormality any lump no matter how big or small go to the hospital. It is a hospital disease let your pastor pray for you so you can have meaningful treatment. We don’t want to lose our women anymore a lot of women are dying needlessly so let’s all understand we can survive breast cancer when we do the right thing”.
Dr. Wiafe Addai emphasized the importance of seeking medical treatment rather than relying solely on spiritual and herbal interventions, emphasizing that breast cancer requires comprehensive medical care to improve survival rates.
In conclusion, Dr. Wiafe Addai appealed to the public to join efforts in combating breast cancer by promoting awareness and ensuring timely access to healthcare services.
She was confident that with the right actions, lives can be saved, and needless deaths prevented.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
