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Overcoming breast cancer …Theresa Fakaah’s journey to survival

• Theresa Fakaah.

Theresa Fakaah.

At just 33 years, Theresa Fakaah’s world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. Overwhelmed by fear and negativity, she broke down in tears upon hearing the biopsy results.

The doctor’s words echoed in her mind: “The cancer is aggressive; we must remove the affected breast to prevent it from spreading to the oth­er.” The thought of losing a breast, es­pecially at her age and without having children or a partner, was unbearable.

Ms Fakaah’s breast cancer journey started in 2021 when she visited Ga South Municipal with a pain in her breast and was later referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

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It was at the hospital that she re­ceive the devastating news of breast cancer that turned her life around.

Desperate for an alternative, The­resa abandoned conventional treat­ment and sought herbal remedies for three months. However, her condition worsened.

While on herbal treatment, she experienced excruciating pain and dis­charge from her right breast coupled with sleepless nights.

Returning to Korle-Bu the following year 2022, Theresa began her treat­ment anew, she went through eight cycles of chemotherapy, surgery to re­move the affected breast and received 14 shots of Herceptin in her thigh.

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Herceptin is a medication adminis­tered through infusion. This targeted therapy helps prevent cancer cells from growing and is commonly used as an adjuvant treatment to prevent recurrence.

Initially, she was scheduled to re­ceive 18 Herceptin injections, how­ever, Ms Fakaah experienced adverse reactions after 14 injections, and her medical team decided to discontinue the treatment with it and suggested another drug.

She said she was neglected by her family when they heard of her con­dition, advising her to return to the village for cure; a suggestion she refused, hence the rejection.

She was later supported by Toptown Church of Christ, Amanfrom and other individuals which enabled her to go through the treatment.

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She encouraged breast cancer patients not to habour fear in them but rather follow the instructions of health professionals in order to ‘fight and conquer’ the disease.

Ms Fakaah’s breast cancer journey, is an indication of the rising num­ber of young women in Ghana being diagnosed with breast cancer, under­scoring the urgency for broader public education and awareness.

In Ghana alone, over 2,000 women lose their lives to breast cancer each year, however, health experts believe the number is significantly higher, as many cases remain undiagnosed.

A major barrier to diagnosis and treatment is the cost, with many unable to afford the necessary medi­cal procedures. As a result, countless individuals return home, untreated, only to succumb to the disease.

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October is globally recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ded­icated to raising awareness about the disease and promoting early detec­tion.

This year’s global theme for the awareness month is “no one should face breast cancer alone,” with the aim of bringing to attention the silent struggles faced by survivors and patients who may feel isolated and un­supported due to the disease.

The goal of this year’s campaign is to ensure that survivors receive the warmth and support they need while battling with the disease and stigma.

It is therefore important not to pay lip service to the treatment of breast cancer, as many women are continu­ously suffering from the disease.

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It is also important for stakeholders to find ways of lessening the financial and emotional burden of patients and survivors, increase awareness espe­cially among young people, promote healthy lifestyles, improve access to screening and diagnostic facilities as well as enhancing healthcare infra­structure and treatment options.

Theresa’s journey was marked by fear, denial, and determination. Today, she stands as a testament to resilience and courage in the face of adversity

 By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu

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 50 women screened for breast cancer in Hohoe

• Some participants at the event

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.

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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.

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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

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Data on awareness, late presentation of breast cancer cases worrying  — Frimpong-Manso Institute

• Rev Prof Paul Frimpong-Manso

Rev Prof Paul Frimpong-Manso

The Frimpong-Manso Institute has described as worrying prevailing data showing the gap in awareness and late presentation of cases at healthcare facilities by breast cancer patients.

It said most women in Ghana present breast cancer at advanced stages (III or IV), largely due to lack of aware­ness, cultural beliefs (beliefs in traditional medicine) and limited access to healthcare facilities.

In a statement copied to The Spectator, it stated that the delay in the detection and treatment of breast cancer had greatly reduced the sur­vival rates of patients, adding that the high cost of diagnosis and treatment such as sur­gery, chemotherapy, radio­therapy presents a significant barrier for many women.

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It said even though the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana covers some aspects of cancer care, there persists a signifi­cant gap in financing the man­agement of the condition.

It said breast cancer was a significant public health concern in Ghana, as it is in many parts of the world with ongoing efforts to improve detection, treatment and survival outcomes.

According to the Institute, in 2020, the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) estimated that Ghana report­ed around 4,600 new cases of breast cancer, with a mortali­ty rate of approximately 2,055 deaths annually.

“This type of cancer contin­ues to be the most commonly diagnosed among women with increasing incidence due to several factors, including lifestyle changes, urbanisation and improved detection meth­ods,” it added.

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It said in Ghana, breast cancer tends to affect young­er women with many cases diagnosed in women under 50, unlike women in developed countries.

On treatment, options for breast cancer patients in Ghana include surgery, chemotherapy and somewhat limited radiotherapy and hor­monal therapies saying there was growing recognition of the need for palliative care, especially for patients with advanced-stage cancer.

Notwithstanding, it said, there were still ongoing efforts to improve care for breast cancer patients.

“Both government and NGOs continue to engage communi­ties on awareness of the dis­ease through media campaigns and community outreach programmes,” it added.

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It added that efforts were being made to train health­care professionals, improve diagnostic tools, and build infrastructure geared towards breast cancer care.

 By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu

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