By Benjamin Akoto
Sunyani, Oct. 24, GNA – Miss Rita Oppong Yeboah, a Health Promotion Officer at the Sunyani Teaching Hospital, has cautioned patients to avoid self-medication, management, and treatment of breast cancer.
Instead, she urged them to seek medical care saying, early detection of breast cancer could facilitate treatment or management process.
Ms Yeboah gave the advice in an interview with the media on the side-lines of a breast cancer screening awareness exercise and seminar organised by the Bono, Bono, East and Ahafo Regional office of the Ghana Cocoa Board in Sunyani to mark this year’s breast cancer awareness week.
It was on the theme “screen smart, early detection, brighter future”.
Ms Yeboah advised women to self-examine their breasts regularly and report any abnormality or lumps to nearby health facilities for further examination.
“Not all lumps are cancerous, but it’s crucial to visit health facilities for screening to determine the nature of the lump,” she advised.
Ms Yeboah expressed worry that some breast cancer patients delayed in seeking medical care until their situations worsened, and thereby impeded effective management and treatment.
“Breast cancer is real, but not a spiritual ailment,” she stated, and urged patients to seek medical care instead of resorting to spiritual assistance.
Mr Michael P. K Asumanu, the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regional Administrator of the Ghana Cocoa Board, in another interview expressed worry about the rising cases of breast cancer in the country, saying it was unfortunate many people were still unaware about its devastating impact in society.
He therefore stressed the need to intensify awareness creation to help stem the spread of the disease.
In a related interview, Ms Rebecca Nkrumah Dadzie, personnel of the Seed Production Division, COCOBOD said women needed in-depth understanding about the causes and symptoms of breast cancer.
She therefore underlined the need to increase public education on breast cancer, misconceptions surrounding breast cancer, and possible risk behaviours.
GNA