Takoradi, Oct. 17, GNA – Bethel Methodist Medical Centre and Focus 1 Media have organized free breast screening for market women at the Takoradi Jubilee Grounds.
The programme formed part of activities to mark October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month to create awareness about the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
Beneficiaries for the exercise got their breasts examined and their blood pressure checked, while those whose medical situation required additional medical attention were advised and referred accordingly.
The beneficiaries and the entire market were sensitized on some risk factors, symptoms and myths about breast cancer and how to self-examine their breasts every month.
Dr. Augustine Benedict Ackon, Medical Director at the Bethel Methodist Medical Centre, told the GNA that the free screening allowed the market women, who could not take time off their busy schedules to go for check-ups to do so without any inconvenience.
He said though the exercise was aimed at detecting early conditions to ensure that patients got early treatment, many of the beneficiaries did not show any breast cancer symptoms.
According to him, “here were a good number of women who had normal discharge from their breasts but those with brownish discharge is a cause to worry because that is an early symptom of the disease.
There was a woman with a lump in the breast which was clearly affecting the architecture of the breast which is a clear sign of cancer. We have been able to get some few cases which we are going to follow up with even after the programme”, he added.
He advised the women to get themselves screened regularly beyond the month of October, especially those who have attained the age of 35 and above, and entreated them to observe their breasts and report to any health facility when they noticed a lump or any changes in their breasts to help reduce breast cancer deaths.
Dr. Ackon expressed the hope that the Bethel Methodist Medical Centre and Focus 1 Media would have similar collaborations of mutual benefit to continue supporting the society.
Madam Jemila Baidoo-Gyan, a Teacher at the Community Development Vocational and Technical Institute (COMDEVOC) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Sesema House of Seams, who took the women through the proper ways of keeping the breast healthy, advised them to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, avoid excessive intake of fats, alcoholic beverages and smoking as they could contribute to breast cancer.
She said if every woman adopted the habit of self-examining her breasts on a routine basis it would ensure early detection of the disease.
Mr Kwame Offei, host of “Adzekye Mu Nsem” on Spice Fm, a local brand of Focus 1 Media, announced that the programme was part of their commitment to addressing the health needs of women in the Metropolis.
Madam Maame Esi, one of the beneficiaries, thanked the organizers and called on women to take part in regular breast screening exercises to save more women from the deadly disease.
GNA