Breast Care International Screens Hundreds At Anum Boso

As part of the Easter festivities, Breast Care International (BCI) in collaboration with Peace and Love Hospitals, Peace and Love Survivors Association (PALSA), and chiefs of Anum Boso traditional area organized a breast health education program for the people of Anum Boso and its surroundings on Easter Sunday April 20, 2014. The purpose of the program was to educate women about breast diseases especially breast cancer; teach them how to correctly perform regular breast self-examination (BSE), and perform Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) free of charge. Educating the women prior to the CBE, Dr. (Mrs.) Beatrice Wiafe Addai, who is also a general surgeon and a consultant breast surgeon and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Peace and Love hospitals said that research has shown that breast cancer is more prevalent among Ghanaian women from ages 35-45 and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. She emphasized that the good thing about breast cancer is that early detection and prompt action is key to its treatment and if presented early, people could be treated with minimal surgery, drugs, and radiotherapy and most importantly reduces the risk of death. Dr. Wiafe Addai further informed the participants that in most cases the initial stages of breast cancer may not be painful and therefore it is important for women to report to the hospital early when they detect any unusual changes in their breast. Dr. Wiafe Addai advised the women to register with the national health insurance scheme (NHIS) in order access cheaper treatment, as cancer treatment can be quite expensive. As a testament that breast cancer is a survivable disease, Mrs. Vivian Sarfo, the president of Peace and Love Survivors association (PALSA) who is also a nine-year survivor added her voice by advising the women not to challenge themselves when it comes to the disease but seek prompt health care from hospitals when they detect breast symptoms. She cautioned against the use of herbal concoctions, and myths and misconceptions of the disease that it is caused by evil spirits or it�s a family curse. Approximately 500 people attended the program where 350 where clinically screened for symptoms of breast cancer.