Accra, Sept. 30, GNA – Ghana records more than 5,000 breast cancer cases annually, with 2,695 deaths, Dr Mary-Ann Dadzie, a Radiation Oncologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, has disclosed.
She said about 70 per cent of patients reported to health facilities with an advanced stage of the disease, making treatment more difficult and reducing their chances of survival.
Dr Dadzie said this at the national launch of the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Accra, on the theme: “Early Action, Better Outcomes.”
She said the average age at diagnosis was 49 years, stressing the need for women to seek medical attention promptly when they noticed changes in their breasts.
Delayed presentation, she said, could make treatment more difficult and costly, reduce the possibility of breast-conserving treatment and affect survival outcomes.
The launch, organised by the Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and partners, brought together health officials, development partners, civil society organisations, researchers, survivors, caregivers and other stakeholders to renew the national commitment to reducing breast cancer deaths.
Dr Dadzie said some women delayed seeking care for months or years, by which time the cancer could have spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs, liver, bones and brain.
She urged women not to wait until a breast lump became painful before seeking medical attention, explaining that pain was not necessarily an indication of breast cancer.
She identified warning signs to include a lump or thickening in the breast or armpit, changes in breast size or shape, an inverted nipple, abnormal nipple discharge and changes in the skin of the breast.
“Seek medical help within two weeks, not three years,” she advised, encouraging women to become familiar with what was normal for their breasts and report unusual changes to a health professional.
Dr Dadzie said most women diagnosed with breast cancer had no family history of the disease and urged all women to remain vigilant.
She attributed delays in diagnosis and treatment to factors including fear, stigma, financial difficulties and long distances to health facilities.
Dr Dadzie called for screening and diagnostic services to be brought closer to communities and measures to reduce the cost of breast cancer treatment.
She also urged families and community organisations to support women undergoing diagnosis and treatment by assisting with transportation, childcare and other practical needs.
Employers, she said, should support workers receiving cancer treatment and protect their jobs, while health facilities should use routine visits to educate patients about breast health.
“Breast cancer is not a death sentence when it is found early,” Dr Dadzie said, urging women to seek medical care promptly and adhere to prescribed treatment.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Samira Larbie
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