Dr Hannah Naa Gogwe Ayettey, Consultant Oncologist at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, has revealed that the hospital has witnessed a dramatic rise in cancer cases over the past two decades.

According to her, institutional records from the Korle Bu facility show that in 2005 the hospital recorded just over 700 new cancer cases.

However, the numbers have escalated significantly over time. In 2024 alone, the facility recorded more than 2,600 new cases, a figure Dr Ayettey described as alarming.

Dr Naa Gogwe Ayettey said this during a cancer research symposium held to explore the unique features of African cancers for improved treatment outcomes.

Speaking to journalists after the opening ceremony, which was organised under the auspices of Precision Medicine for Aggressive Breast Cancers (PMABC), she stressed the importance of collaborative research to enhance patient care and develop effective treatments across the continent.

Dr Naa Gogwe Ayettey, who also serves as the General Secretary of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), noted that while genetic factors contribute to cancer prevalence in Africa, patients face severe socio-economic challenges and financial hardship due to the high cost of treatment.

She advised patients to seek early hospital care to avoid complications and called for increased awareness to encourage early detection and greater community involvement in care.

The symposium, themed “Catalysing Basic and Translational Cancer in Africa: Advancing Progress and Capacity Building”, was held in partnership with AORTIC.

It brought together experts and researchers to focus on high-burden cancers, including breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, and oesophageal cancers.

Dr Miriam Mutebe, President of AORTIC, reiterated the importance of early diagnosis, saying, “Many cancer patients are potentially treatable and curable if diagnosed earlier.”

“Breast cancer is the most common diagnosis affecting young ladies in West Africa, but about 90 percent of the patients survive due to early detection,” she added.