By Samira Larbie
Accra, Oct. 15, GNA – Dr Nana Ama Wiafe, a Radiologist at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), has called for intensified breast cancer screening and public education to reduce late diagnosis, treatment costs and deaths associated with the disease.
She said early detection improved treatment outcomes by enabling healthcare professionals to identify breast cancer before it spread to other parts of the body.
Dr Wiafe made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday as part of activities marking the October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
She expressed concern that findings from some studies in Ghana showed that between 70 and 85 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer presented at Stage Three or later, reducing their chances of receiving treatment at the earliest stages.
She said the situation highlighted the urgent need to strengthen public awareness and improve access to screening and diagnostic services across the country.
“You cannot overemphasize the importance of screening in early detection,” she said, stressing that identifying breast cancer at an early stage could improve survival prospects and reduce the burden of treatment.
Dr Wiafe explained that breast cancer developed when abnormal cells in the breast grew uncontrollably, with most cases originating in the milk ducts and milk-producing glands.
She said the disease could initially remain confined within the ducts, a condition known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), before becoming invasive and potentially spreading through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other organs.
She noted that mammography was particularly important in detecting early abnormalities, including tiny calcium deposits known as calcifications, which might not be felt during a physical examination or detected through breast ultrasound.
Dr Wiafe recommended that women at average risk begin routine mammographic screening at age 40, while those at higher risk, including women with certain inherited genetic mutations or a history of chest radiotherapy at a young age, should consult their clinicians for an appropriate screening plan.
She encouraged women to familiarise themselves with the normal appearance and feel of their breasts, attend clinical examinations as advised and seek prompt medical attention when they noticed unusual changes.
The commonest warning sign, she said, was a breast lump, although not all lumps were cancerous.
Other symptoms included persistent itching or burning of the breast or nipple, nipple discharge, changes in the nipple or areola, skin ulceration, dimpling, changes in breast shape and unexplained swelling of lymph nodes in the armpit.
“Knowing your breasts and what they normally look and feel like helps you recognise when something changes,” she said, urging women not to ignore unusual changes or delay seeking medical attention until their next routine screening appointment.
On concerns about radiation exposure during mammography, Dr Wiafe explained that the procedure used a low dose of X-rays and that the benefits of detecting cancer early generally outweighed the potential risks.
She said early diagnosis could reduce the financial and psychological burden on patients and their families, noting that advanced breast cancer could require surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and additional treatment if the disease spread to other organs.
Dr Wiafe acknowledged that access to mammography and other diagnostic services remained a challenge in some rural communities and called for stronger community-based education and improved access to screening facilities.
She urged community health nurses, traditional leaders, queen mothers, family heads and the media to intensify breast health education, particularly among women with limited access to specialised healthcare.
She also called on healthcare professionals to incorporate breast health discussions into routine patient consultations, regardless of the conditions for which patients sought care.
Although breast cancer primarily affected women, she stressed that men could also develop the disease and should seek medical assessment when they noticed unusual breast changes.
Dr Wiafe said sustained public education, appropriate screening and timely medical intervention were essential to reducing late presentation and improving breast cancer outcomes in Ghana.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed annually in October to raise awareness of the disease and promote access to timely diagnosis and quality care.
In Ghana, Pink October, also known as Pinktober, is being observed under the theme: “Early Action, Better Outcomes.”
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Samira Larbie
Email: [email protected]