By Bernice Bessey
Misconceptions about breast cancer which has led many affected women especially, to live in obscurity, according to Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, Chief Executive Officer of Breast Care International (BCI) Ghana, is a result of lack of information and education.
To end the misconception about cancer treatment and care, the BCI has organised a one-day information and education voluntary workshop for the spouses of Presbyterian ministers in Accra about the risk, early detection, and treatment of cancer.
She said the aim of the workshop was to train volunteers to help create awareness about breast cancer, which is on the rise and affecting both men and women in the country.
The workshop was organised in support of the Peace and Love Hospitals, Presbyterian Minister Wives Association, and the Inter-Commercial Impex Limited, producers of Forever Easy and Yofi sanitary pads, under the theme: “Education to make a difference in breast cancer. Together we can make it.”
Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, while delivering her opening address, reiterated that the obscurity many of the affected patients are living in was a result of lack of information and education, which must be made available in every quarter of society: “We want our women to be breast cancer aware, not scared.”
She attributed some affected patients’ late reporting to the hospital to spiritual beliefs, as some of the women are detained at various prayer camps, believing to be healed by their faith: “We are not saying prayer is bad, but prayer without works is not effective.”
She noted that some of these spiritual leaders have the least or no knowledge about cancer, and therefore, detain patients with the belief that it is a spiritual attack and must be prayed for, instead of hospital treatment.
With these incidences, cases are, therefore, reported late to the hospitals when the tumors have gone out of hand, and Mastectomy (removal of breast) or breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) by radiation is the only option.
Since the cause of cancer in our world is unknown, Breast Care International Ghana has embarked on a nationwide training of nurses, local organisations, and churches among others.
Dr. Wiafe Addae urged Ghanaians, especially women, to conduct self breast examinations, clinical examinations and mammogram tests for early detection, and also should not refrain from visiting the hospital since the National Health Insurance Scheme covers breast cancer treatment.
The Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Rachel Florence Appoh, highly commended Dr. Wiafe and Breast Care international Ghana for their endless efforts to demystify and eradicate cancer from Ghana.
Rachel Appoh, although will soon cease to be a Deputy Minister at the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry, said the cause to support programmes that seeks to train participants to acquire basic knowledge in order to act as voluntary promoters in the various local communities falls in line with the ministry’s vision.
“As a ministry, we join hands with many ministries, departments, governmental agencies, non-governmental agencies (NGO), and civil society organisations, as well as private entities, to help address challenges and societal problems confronting us, especially the health of or women and mothers,” she stated.
She, however, appealed to women and young girls to seek early help, and not to be afraid or harbour negative emotions and misconceptions about breast cancer treatment for the detection of the disease.