By Alfred Adams
The breasts are one of the important organs of the body. Women admire breasts, and so do men. However, when a breast is diseased, its potency is called into question.
But did you know that cancer of the breast is the most leading cause of cancer deaths among women? In 2012, a total of 2,260 women were diagnosed with the disease. That means Breast Cancer is highly treatable, curable, and survivable, if diagnosed early. However, records shows that 60% of Ghanaian women with breast cancer are usually found in the advanced stages of the disease.
The intriguing aspect of it all is that lack of Breast Cancer Awareness and Education tops the list of reasons usually assigned for the delayed presentation among women in Ghana. This has culminated in the global incidence and mortality of breast cancer rising, with Ghana not an exception.
However, in Ghana, the ignorance about the disease is reported to have contributed to the soaring rate of the disease. This is because breast cancer is one of the diseases that is not painful from the beginning. As a result, people have the misconception that once the disease isn’t painful, then obviously, there is no danger.
But you are wrong, as the consequential effect of the disease, when it begins to grow, is death. But for how long would we sit unconcerned and watch the deadly virus wipe out our women?
You may not be concerned as a man, but remember every woman is a potential mother, wife, girlfriend et al to a man. It is as a result of this that Breast Care International (BCI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has taken it upon itself to create massive awareness about the deadly disease.
A BCI primary target in the awareness creation exercise is women. Included in the awareness campaign too are chiefs, opinion leaders, and members of Parliament amongst others. The BCI awareness creation on the disease started with a series of walks.
The walk started in 2011 and in 2012 was held in Kumasi, which drew over 15,000 participants. The subsequent one staged in Accra in 2013 saw President John Mahama and former President Kufuor in attendance.
For now, the BCI has turned its attention to Sekondi-Takoradi to begin creating awareness and education of the disease. Consequently, the BCI has launched a media walk for the fifth BCI Walk for The Cure 2015. The theme for the event is ‘Fighting for Breast Cancer – Free Future.’
The walk, which would include chiefs and other opinion leaders, would begin at Jubilee Park, through the principal streets of Takoradi, and eventually converge at the Essipong Sports Stadium for the launch.
The date for the walk is scheduled for October 30, and is aimed at hooting at Breast Cancer, where information about the disease would be made known through placards and fliers.
Launching the media awareness creation, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe (Mrs), Chairperson of BCI Walk for the Cure, reiterated that Breast Cancer was one of the diseases that are not painful during the initial stages.
However, she was quick to add that though not painful, it should not be harboured, since it was one of the killer diseases among women. Breast Cancer, she said, strikes early in Africa, as a result there was the need to aggressively create awareness of the disease.
Mrs. Wiafe added that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that 75% of all cancer deaths will occur in developing countries. The BCI Chairperson, however, told the launch that there is no cure for Breast Cancer.
However, early screening, detection and prompt action taken will help in doing away with the disease.
About BCI
Breast Care International was founded in 2002 as a non-governmental organisation by Dr. Beatrice Wiafe, a Breast Care Specialist and Surgeon. The aim of BCI, as conceived, is to establish breast cancer awareness centers throughout the country dedicated to the creation of breast cancer awareness among Ghanaian women, especially, the rural women.