By Laudia Sawer
Tema, Oct. 23, GNA – The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Redemption Congregation at Tema Community Nine, has organized free health screening with a call on women to screen for early detection of breast cancer.
Dr. Samuel Kwesi Ekuban, a Medical Officer at the International Maritime Hospital in Tema, who led a team of medical officers for the screening at the church, said screening and early detection ensure high survival.
Dr. Ekuban said evidence had shown that early detection had led to a high rate of survival among breast cancer patients in the United States.
He, therefore, encouraged women to do self-examinations every month to pick up lumps, abnormal growth, decoloration of the areola, changes in nipple shape, and discharges.
He said any such changes found with the breast must be reported immediately to the hospital for a breast scan or a mammogram for early diagnosis and treatment.
He said it was worrying that in Ghana, five out of every 10 breast cancer patients report to the hospital when the cancer had advanced and had already spread, a situation leading to very low survival.
The IMaH Medical Officer said late intervention could cause the cancer to spread to other parts of the body, including the brain, leading to seizures, the backbone, leading to pain, and the lungs, preventing enough air from entering, leading to possible death.
Touching on risk factors, he mentioned family history, especially in first-degree relatives, early initiation of menstruation, and late menopause.
He explained that the female hormone oestrogen is high during menses; therefore, early initiation and late menopause meant the female would be at a higher risk as the hormones would be more active in them.
He said another risk had to do with late giving of birth, mostly after 30 years, adding that the more pregnancies women had, the lower their chances of contracting breast cancer.
Dr. Ekuban told the Ghana News Agency that IMaH was offering free breast screening and discounted scans and mammograms during this month and therefore, encouraged the public to take advantage and screen.
He said so far the responses were encouraging, adding that the screening helped those who were not aware they had some risk factors to be aware of.
Mr. John Ahadzie, the blood organiser at the Tema General Hospital, talking about blood donation, said people must volunteer to ensure that enough blood is stored ahead of emergencies.
Mr. Ahadzie said persons aged 17 and above who weigh 50 kilogrammes could donate after being screened.
He added that their haemoglobin levels should be 12 and 13 and above, respectively, for females and males.
He said that before donating, donors must take in more fluid, eat, and not take alcohol or spirits.
Mrs. Gladys Amponsah Nyarko, the President of the Young Adult Fellowship (YAF) of the church, said the group decided to bring the breast screening closer to the congregants as most of them, due to their work schedules, might not be able to visit the various hospitals for the screening.
She said they believed that apart from feeding the people with the work of God and ensuring their spiritual growth, there was the need to take care of their physical being and health.
She also said the church had some collaboration with the Tema General Hospital to donate blood annually to support the hospital; therefore, the YAF decided to include the blood donation as part of their responsibility to society.
GNA