Gender
Men urged to allow women to check breast cancer signs
Mr Emmanuel Turkson Azumah, a breast cancer survivor, has advised that just as women were encouraged to allow men to examine their breasts for signs of cancer, men should also be proactive in allowing women to check theirs.
He called on both men and women to help each other detect breast cancer early.
Speaking in an interview with The Spectator, he emphasised the importance of mutual breast examinations between partners to enable early detection, noting that the practice could benefit both men and women.
“As women are urged to allow men to suck their breast and examine them, women should do same for men as breast cancer can affect both sexes,” he said.
Azumah’s own experience with breast cancer began when he started feeling pains in his right breast, something he initially dismissed, believing the disease only affected women.
He said his wife, however, encouraged him to seek medical attention, and after a series of tests, he was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer.
He revealed that he quickly began chemotherapy, completing it in December 2023, followed by 25 days of radiotherapy.
“Today, I am healthy, thanks to the early intervention initiated by my wife,” he said.
Reflecting on his experience, Azumah stressed how traumatic it was to learn that he, as a man, had breast cancer.
He encouraged women to allow their male partners to help examine them for signs of breast cancer and vice versa.
He believed that the mutual practice could lead to early detection and, consequently, timely treatment.
Azumah urged people to offer emotional and financial support to breast cancer patients, as the cost of treatment can be prohibitive.
Furthermore, he appealed to the government to equip hospitals in the Eastern Region with mammogram machines, which are essential for early detection but currently lacking in the region.
The Clinical Director of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr Foster Amponsah, echoed Azumah’s concerns, noting that breast cancer cases were on the rise in the region.
He revealed that the hospital recorded more than five breast cancer-related deaths each month, with many patients seeking treatment at advanced stages of the disease.
This trend, he said, was particularly alarming among young women and emphasized that early detection was crucial.
He urged individuals to regularly check for symptoms and seek medical advice as soon as any abnormalities were detected.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Arko Akoto-Ampaw, also highlighted the severity of the issue, stating that breast cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the region.
He stressed the importance of continued public awareness and education on breast cancer, noting that it affected both men and women.
“In an effort to make early detection more accessible, the hospital has reduced the cost of ultrasound scans from GH¢100 to GH¢20, allowing more people, especially those with financial constraints, to afford screening,” he said.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Gender
Naa Ayele Osabu leads initiative to groom teenagers
Naa Ayele Osabu
An initiative to inspire the next generation, especially teenagers, by indulging them in after-school activities and programmes, is set to be launched on Saturday, November 30, 2024.
It would be launched by the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.
Dubbed, “Heal the world/Make it a better place”, the initiative undertaken by a youth based non-governmental organisation, would involve teenagers aged 11-17 years and selected from schools in the catchment area.
Speaking to The Spectator, Naa Ayele Osabu, the lead of the initiative, said it targeted kids in the Ga communities because there was a high prevalence rate of teenage pregnancy and school dropouts in those communities.
Additionally, she explained that with the introduction of the after-school programmes and activities such as karate, arts and crafts, the kids would have an experience that fostered discipline, sparked creativity, and develop their mental capacity to become more productive in their communities.
Furthermore, Naa Osabu said experts and professionals in respective programmes would be available to enrol participants and engage them.
The initiative, she said, was a long-term project to roll out in many other communities globally and therefore urged all stakeholders to support to ensure its successful implementation.
Naa Osabu, who owns Ayele Kelewele (a local food restaurant) has had one of the most challenging experiences as a child. “It’s during these tough times that I figured it would be best to make an impact in the society while the business is yet to blossom, hence this initiative.”
“Being a Ga girl, I know the challenges a lot of these young kids face on daily basis. This project will give these kids in the Ga community an opportunity that will, equip them with skills, spark their creativity and achieve the dreams they never thought will be possible,” she stated.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
Gender
50 women screened for breast cancer in Hohoe
Some participants at the event
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Forshes Africa Foundation, has organised a breast cancer awareness campaign in Hohoe, and educated residents on the need to ensure regular screening exercise for cancer for early detection and treatment.
The one-day cancer screening exercise, which was under the theme: “Early detection save lives”, saw 50 women screened for the disease, and those who were suspected of early development of cancer were referred to the Volta Regional Hospital at Hohoe for further medical examination.
Speaking at the programme, the Project Manager of Forshes Africa Foundation (FAF), Pastor Nana Jones Boame, stressed the need for women who were mostly victims of breast cancer to at all times take proactive measures to ensure they were safe from the disease.
Referencing Proverbs 27: 12 of the Bible which read “the prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty,” Pastor Boame emphasised the need to be cautious and take preventive actions to avoid harm.
He explained that in the context of breast cancer, early detection through screening was a wise and proactive step to potentially save lives through early diagnosis and treatment.
According to him, it was important for breast cancer survivors both male and females to share their experiences in order to offer hope to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, saying breast cancer also affects men but was only prevalent among women.
An Oncology Nurse Specialist at the Volta Regional Hospital, Mr Jonas Ntikie Njibe, explained that breast cancer simply occurred when cells in the breast grew uncontrollably, which could affect men and women but commonly found among women, therefore it was important for men to also screen and know their breast cancer status.
Mr Njibe said there was the need for people to adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce cancer, including regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and eating balanced diet which were crucial means to reduce cancer in the society.
From Samuel Agbewode, Hohoe
