Six people die daily of breast cancer in Ghana, with approximately 27,385 new cases being recorded annually.
The Director, Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (RAMSRI-GAEC), Dr Theodosia Adom, disclosed this at the launch of this year’s Cancer Awareness Month by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) in Accra yesterday.
It was launched by Mr Kwamena Essilfie Quaison, a Director at the Ministry of Environmental, Science, Technology and Innovation, on the theme: “Screen today, live tomorrow.”
According to the organisation, cancer, particularly breast and prostate cancer, posed a significant burden globally.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer was the second most common cancer worldwide in 2022, with approximately 2.3 million new cases diagnosed. Prostate cancer ranked fourth, with around 1.47 million new cases.
While breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, prostate cancer is a major concern for men.
WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that cancer cases across the world would double in the next 10 years.
According to the organisation, cancer, particularly breast and prostate cancer, posed a significant burden globally.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer was the second most common cancer worldwide in 2022, with approximately 2.3 million new cases diagnosed. Prostate cancer ranked fourth, with around 1.47 million new cases.
While breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, prostate cancer is a major concern for men.
“These statistics underscore the urgent need for awareness, early detection, and effective treatment,” Dr Adom said.
Dr Adom said one out of eight men or women would develop cancer in a lifetime, saying it was time Ghanaians braced themselves for this reality.
She, however, gave an assurance that early detection could lead to a 95 per cent survival rate.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed in October, while Prostate Cancer Month is in November.
Activities for the two months of sensitisation include community and media engagement, an awareness walk, screening, and visits to key government institutions.
Director-General of GAEC
The Director-General of GAEC, Prof. Samuel B. Dampare, called for early detection and empowerment of individuals with knowledge and education.
“Early detection saves lives and increases the survival rate dramatically,” he said.
The Director-General said it was important to build a stronger community as Ghanaians by becoming ambassadors championing proactive screening.
Treatment
A manager at GAEC, Dr Theophilus Nii Akomea Sackey, advocated that the treatment of all kinds of cancers should be included in the Mahama Cares programme because the cost of treatment was too high.
With prostate cancer, he said the minimum treatment cost was not less than GH¢ 40,000, which the ordinary Ghanaian would not be able to afford.
“No herbal medicine can cure cancer, and it is time Ghanaians were told the hard truth,” he told the Daily Graphic in an interview.
“It is time government cracked the whip by arresting such herbal practitioners who know very well that their concoction cannot cure cancer,” he added.
Dr Sackey said most cancer cases brought to the GAEC hospital were always in the fourth stage, meaning the condition was beyond treatment.
