MEMBER of Parliament (MP) Agona East constituency in the Central Region, Mrs. Obaatanpa Maame Pokua Sawyer, has stated that the early detection, treatment of breast cancer was important to save lives.
Addressing women in Agona recently, the lawmaker sensitised them on the threat of breast cancer and stressed early detection and effective treatment as ways to making headway in improving the sad outcomes of Ghanaians with breast cancer.
She pledged her full support to reduce the rate of breast cancer cases in her constituency following her speciality in food, nutrition and public health.
The MP’s call was in commemoration of the month of October, designated since 1985, through partnership between the American Cancer Society and the Pharmaceutical Division of the Imperial Chemical Industries to promote awareness about breast cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Breast cancer is a disease condition in which the breast tissue becomes cancerous and begins to grow out of control.
Some signs and symptoms of the condition include; breast lump, lump in the armpit, change in the colour of the breast skin, bloody nipple discharge and disoriented nipple position.
Quoting World Health Organisation (WHO) figures, the maker said “a total of two thousand Ghanaians women were diagnosed in 2012 with breast cancer, and one thousand died of the disease.”
Also, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in Ghana with one out of every eight women with the condition dying of the disease. Men can also get breast cancer, which appears around the pectorals, especially in the nipple and areola areas.
She mentioned vegetables like kontomere and also some fresh fruits including banana, mangoes, pineapples, as major panaceas to breast cancer since the disease is curable.”
It was a very interactive event so she allowed all sort of concerns in relation to cancer to be brought to the fore and humbly urged them on.
The joy was overwhelming as usual.
Story: Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu
