Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Vice Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), says the next NDC government will bear the cost of screening for breast cancer to ensure early detection and treatment. 

She said that would ensure that both women and men went for breast cancer screening at all times and not wait until once a year in October to have it for free, which might be late. 

“We want to recognise and thank everybody who in October every year put themselves out, encourage all of us to go and test for free. But some of us feel that… how about the rest of the month? 

“How about the rest of the year rather? How does the government step in? Why can’t we have a few more months supported by the government so we can go and test for breast cancer more often than once a year?  

“…And so we have pushed and put it in our manifesto that government must bear that cost of testing of screening because it will save more lives early,” she said. 

Prof Opoku-Agyemang gave the assurance when Valarie Mills Memorial Breast Cancer Foundation, a non-governmental organization, organised a forum to create awareness on breast cancer as part of activities to commemorate this year’s pink October. 

The forum, which featured a health walk to create awareness of breast cancer, was on the theme; “Early Detection Saves Lives”. 

Prof Opoku-Agyemang making a cash donation of GHS 10, 000 to support the Foundation’s efforts, urged women to shun fears when it came to breast cancer and have themselves screened to prevent late reporting. 

Breast cancer occurs when malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. 

Factors, including ageing and obesity, increase the risk of breast cancer. 

It is the most common cancer among women worldwide, accounting for about 25 per cent of all cancer cases and affects over 2.3 million women globally each year. 

According to GLOBOCAN, Ghana in 2022 recorded 5,026 cases of breast cancer with associated 2,369 deaths, representing an increase in the number of cases recorded in 2020 to 4,482. 

Dr Florence Dedey, a Breast Surgeon at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Lecturer University of Ghana Medical School, said all women irrespective of their age were at risk of breast cancer and needed to be screened for early detection. 

She said to detect breast cancer early for effective treatment, there was the need for everyone especially women to know what their normal breasts looked like and examine them every month. 

Dr Dedey said women 40 years old should have at least one mammography done every year or two, to be able to pick up changes very early for effective treatment.  

She advised women seeking treatment for breast cancer at prayer camps to leave the camps for hospitals for effective treatment.   

Dr Mary-Anne Dadzie, Senior Specialist, Oncology and Radiotherapy KBTH, called for comprehensive health coverage for all. 

She said that was important because approximately half of patients who visited the centre and were diagnosed with cancer did not come back for treatment due to the cost involved. 

“One sad part is to see a young woman who is diagnosed very early and then goes away and comes back at a stage where you cannot save their lives. So I want to encourage us, including the Foundation to push for comprehensive health coverage for all,” Dr Dadzie stated. 

Dr Octavia Otoo, the Founder of Valarie Mills Memorial Breast Cancer Foundation, said breast cancer affected a woman mentally, emotionally, physically and financially.  

She said her NGO was, therefore, stepping in to support through reconstructive surgery, subsidies on prosthetics, payment of bills, and provision of professional psychological help. 

Dr Otoo said the Foundation, named after her mother who suffered from breast cancer, understood the financial constraints patients faced and as such made a cheque presentation of GHS100,000 to support needy patients of the Breast Care Unit of the KBTH.