A GNA feature by Elizabeth Larkwor Baah, GNA
Tema, Oct. 06, GNA – Sleep eluded Bridgette Emefa Van-Johnson as she anxiously awaited a biopsy result that can alter the course of her life, after what began as a seemingly ordinary lump beneath her arm led to a mammogram.
Breast Cancer Treatment Journey
At the Pink Room, Ms. Van-Johnson underwent further examinations before being referred for a biopsy. What followed was an agonising three-week wait for the results, which she described as one of the most difficult periods of her journey.
“I didn’t sleep for all the three weeks,” she recalls, describing the uncertainty and anxiety she experienced while awaiting the diagnosis.
She said when the result was finally ready, she returned to the hospital and met the medical team. Although her doctor gently prepared her for the news, she already knew what was coming: she had breast cancer.
She stated that the moment was her “make-or-break day”, a moment that could either break her or strengthen her resolve to fight, and she chose to fight.
Bridgette said doctors recommended six sessions of chemotherapy followed by surgery, and although some relatives questioned whether chemotherapy was necessary, she sought information before deciding to follow the medical advice and treatment journey.
However, it came with severe physical and emotional challenges.
She mentioned that after her first chemotherapy session, she experienced vomiting, heartburn, diarrhoea and allergic reactions, but the hospital maintained contact with her, monitored her condition and responded whenever she reported new symptoms.
She appreciated the International Maritime Hospital, in Tema, for the role they played.
Describing the loss of her hair as one of the most emotionally painful moments of her treatment journey, she recalled, “I touched my hair, and it fell into my hands.”
She said as chemotherapy continued, the side effects became increasingly difficult, and sometimes she became so weak that she required emergency care and had to stay away from work during periods of treatment and recovery.
However, despite the physical toll, she continued with the treatment, determined to overcome the disease.
She said the fifth chemotherapy session became particularly traumatic as she was unable to eat properly while suffering severe diarrhoea and vomiting, resulting in her becoming extremely weak.
She mentioned that while preparing to undergo a mammogram, she collapsed in front of the machine and was rushed to the emergency unit, prompting her to consider stopping treatment.
She said her family’s encouragement strengthened her not to give up the sixth session and to continue the fight against breast cancer.
The numbers behind the global burden
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer caused an estimated 694,000 deaths globally in 2024 and was the most common cancer in women in 164 countries out of 186 in the same year.
It said approximately 80 per cent of breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factors apart from sex and age, and approximately 0.5 to one per cent of breast cancers occur in men.
What the experts say
Dr Juanita Brehua-Nkansah, a Clinical Oncologist and a representative of the Breast Cancer Society, Ghana, said, ‘According to global cancer statistics, breast cancer remained the leading cause of cancer in Ghana, highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness, early detection and timely treatment.’
Dr Brehua-Nkansah mentioned that in 2024, Ghana recorded 5,487 new breast cancer cases, with 2,695 deaths, explaining that breast cancer could develop without obvious symptoms, saying that “a person may feel perfectly well while the disease is progressing.”
She said screening and regular breast checks provided opportunities to identify abnormalities before they became advanced, adding that early detection, followed by timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, could improve the chances of better outcomes.
She encouraged women to become familiar with the normal appearance and feel of their breasts and pay attention to new or unusual changes, warning that signs included a new lump, changes in breast size or shape, skin changes, abnormal nipple discharge and nipple retraction.
“Importantly, breast cancer does not always cause pain, so the absence of pain should not be considered reassurance,” she stated.
She stressed that women should understand that being healthy or having no family history of breast cancer did not mean they were free from risk, stressing that regular breast awareness and appropriate screening remained important.
“Women without symptoms are encouraged to perform monthly breast self-examinations, preferably three to five days after menstruation.”
She said postmenopausal women could choose a specific day each month to conduct the examination, saying that for women aged 40 years and above, mammography was recommended at intervals of one to three years, depending on individual circumstances and medical advice.
She found courage
July last year, Bridgette successfully completed her sixth chemotherapy session.
Today, she is doing well, and her difficult experience has given her a message she wants every woman to hear.
She urged Ghanaians to pay attention to their breasts and not ignore unusual changes such as a new lump or thickening, changes in the breast’s size or shape, skin changes, nipple abnormalities, unusual discharge or swelling around the nipple and a lot more.
A lump in her armpit led her to seek medical attention. That decision ultimately began a journey through diagnosis, chemotherapy, fear, pain and recovery.
Her story is a reminder that early attention can matter.
For Bridgette, surviving cancer is more than a personal victory; it is a call to action: know your breasts, do not ignore the signs, and seek help early.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Benjamin
Reporter: Elizabeth Larkwor Baah, GNA
Feature Writer’s email address: elizabeth.baah.gna.org.gh
06 Oct. 2026