Breast Cancer Awareness Month launched: 2,695 women die from breast cancer annually — Dr Ann-Dadzie

In Ghana, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or Pinktober, was launched with the aim of encouraging early action and better outcomes for women diagnosed with breast cancer. According to Dr Ann-Dadzie, a Senior Specialist in Radiation and Clinical Oncology at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, approximately 2,695 women die from breast cancer each year, with 2,000 cases recorded annually.

About 70% of breast cancer patients reach health facilities at advanced stages, making treatment challenging. Dr Ann-Dadzie emphasized that the average age of diagnosis was 49, meaning many women were affected during their prime years, building careers and families. The real enemy, she said, was late detection, as it makes treatment longer and more difficult.

Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, the Deputy Minister of Health, highlighted that breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in Ghana, affecting them emotionally, socially, and financially. She stressed that awareness alone was insufficient and that turning awareness into action and commitment into health services was crucial.

The country's approach to breast cancer is centered on four pillars: prevention, early detection, equitable access to treatment, and compassionate care. To address barriers such as fear, stigma, misinformation, cost, and distance, the Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with JHPIEGO and funding from the Pfizer Foundation, is implementing a breast cancer project in the Ashanti, Northern, and Greater Accra regions.

This project aims to equip healthcare providers with skills, strengthen breast cancer education, and address misconceptions that could delay care-seeking. The Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Caroline Reindorf Amissah, called for intensified education and promotion of timely health-seeking behavior among health professionals, communities, workplaces, the media, civil society organizations, and development partners.