{
  "id": 12829256,
  "title": "Breast cancer: Don’t wait for a lump, know your breast",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/breast-cancer-dont-wait-for-a-lump-know-your-breast",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-08T08:36:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ghanaian Times",
    "slug": "ghanaian-times",
    "url": "https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/breast-cancer-dont-wait-for-a-lump-know-your-breast/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In October, focus turns to breast cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. The World Health Organisation states that nearly 2.4 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, resulting in about 694,000 deaths globally. In Ghana, over 5,000 women receive a breast cancer diagnosis annually, with nearly 2,700 losing their lives to the disease. While Ghana has a lower incidence of breast cancer than many Western nations, death rates remain high due to late detection and treatment delays.\n\nBreast surgeon Professor Josephine Nsaful of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital advises women to \"know your breasts\" – not just by looking in a mirror, but by feeling, touching, and squeezing them regularly to become familiar with their normal texture, shape, size, and colour. She encourages women to pay attention to changes in their nipples and breast skin and to notice any new or unusual changes. Don't wait for a lump or pain before checking your breasts.\n\nWomen should begin self-examinations at age 16, performing a monthly breast self-examination preferably after their menstrual cycle. At age 25, they should receive an annual clinical breast examination. Starting at age 40, regular mammograms every two years are recommended to detect abnormalities too small to feel by hand. Regardless of age, women should seek immediate medical attention if they notice any changes or unusual symptoms, such as a new lump, changes in breast size or shape, nipple inversion, skin dimpling, discharge, or any other new abnormalities.\n\nIt's essential to remember that not all breast changes indicate cancer, but women should never try to self-diagnose. Instead, they should consult a healthcare professional for proper assessment. If cancer is detected, prompt treatment following the recommended course of action is crucial for the best possible outcomes. Don't wait for pain, lump, or October to check your breasts; know your breasts and check them regularly.",
  "summary": "Each year in October, attention turns to breast cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), almost 2.4 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) every year with about 694,000 deaths recorded globally, In Ghana, more than 5,000 women are diagnosed with BC annually with … The post Breast cancer: Don’t wait for…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "STAT News",
        "title": "Breast cancer can behave differently in older women. This physician is making more tailored treatments a reality",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/breast-cancer-can-behave-differently-in-older-women-this-physician-is",
        "published": "2026-10-08T08:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}