About 2.3 million women are said to have been diagnosed of breast cancer in 2020 while 685 deaths are recorded annually, according to a report, which also indicated that about 7.8 million women have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the last five years.
Nana Agyakomah Dufie II, the Queen mother of Asante Mampong disclosed this during the Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk organised by the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), with the support of Global Access to Cancer Foundation, an American-based NGO, MAYO Clinic and TBA Collective.
Women groups that participated in the walk include; the Police Ladies, students from the St. Louis College of Education, T.I. Ahmadiya SHS and students from Nurses and Midwifery Training Colleges among others.
According to the Queen mother, the Oncology Directorate of KATH recorded about 12,600 over the past five years, which she described as a worry and needed all collective efforts to fight the disease.
Nana Agyakomah entreated women and also men to screen themselves every other month for early detection to save lives.
She explained that the aim of the exercise was to educate, screen and create awareness for the public to report any abnormality in their breasts to the appropriate hospital facilities to diagnose them, since there are inadequate health facilities.
Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Minister for Works and Housing and Member of Parliament for Bantams, urged Ghanaians to be an advocate in the fight against breast cancer.
He noted that men could play a keyrole in the fight against breasts cancer and challenged them to always touch, suck and feel their wives breasts towards early detection.
Nana Akyea Asante, founder of Embrace Society and Board Chairman of Nurses and Midwifery Council entreated the public to embrace victims of breasts Cancer.
She stated that treatment of breast cancer in Ghana is challenging and costly, hence the need for early examination and detection.
Mrs Tonya Dean Steiner, Chief Executive Officer of Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation and Mr. Harvey Grant, Former NBA Superstar, USA, commended Ghanaians, especially residents of Kumasi, for their commitment and participation in the fight against breast cancer.
She said there are Specialists at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and urged the public to visit the facility regularly for early examination, detection and treatment to save lives.
Dr. Bismarck Dwobeng at the Oncology at KATH advised the participants to tell their families the importance of early detection and examination to save lives.
