Tamale Teaching Hospital records 44 new breast cancer cases in the first half of the year

Breast cancer remains the most common condition at the oncology unit of Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), with 44 new cases identified in the first half of the year. Evelyn Osei Amoah, a specialist oncology nurse, noted that this figure aligns with the 145 new cases recorded last year, indicating a consistent rise in the disease in the region.

Despite encountering other cases at the unit, breast cancer continues to dominate the clinic for the past five years since the commencement of a major breast cancer awareness campaign. The Brooks Dreams Foundation, a local non-profit, played a significant role in this increase by raising public awareness through an annual breast cancer screening event.

Osei Amoah attributed the rise in cases to improved public awareness, with media amplification and survivors sharing their stories encouraging more women to undergo screening. The screening process serves as a bridge between community detection and TTH, enabling early diagnosis and treatment. The Brooks Dreams Foundation aims to screen more than 400 people this year, providing financial support for confirmed cases and facilitating referrals to the oncology department at TTH.

The foundation's efforts, supported by partnerships like that of the Ibrahim Mahama Global Foundation, have helped shift attitudes towards early detection and combat the long-standing influence of myths and traditional beliefs that hindered screening efforts.