Liver and other cancers on the rise in the country

Accra, Oct. 6, GNA - Research conducted by the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi covering over a ten-year period shows a rising incidence of liver, lymphoma, breast and cervical cancers in the country, a Specialist Physician of the Hospital said on Monday. Dr Ohene Opare-Sem, a Blood and Cancer Specialist, said liver cancer was closely related to hepatitis B infections, while that of lymphoma was linked to exposure to various chemicals including those found in agro produce and cosmetics products.

Dr Opare-Sem was speaking to newsmen in Accra after the opening of a five-day international conference on cancer, organised by the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). The Cancer Specialist said the lack of education, regular check-ups coupled with the absence of an effective national screening programme, limited cancer management and treatment in the country. "It is when the cancer has advanced into the late stages that we see people at the hospitals," Dr Opare-Sem said.

Dr Kwaku Afriyie, the Minister of Health, in a speech read for him, told the conference, which brought together scientists and experts across Africa, Europe and the United States, that the management of cancer and other similar diseases was very expensive and only the rich could afford. It is for this reason, he said, that the government was introducing the National Health Insurance Scheme. The minister said government was hopeful that in the "very near future, no Ghanaian will be denied health care because of monetary reasons."

Dr Carria Hunter, Chairperson of the Steering Committee of AORTIC, said various topics including palliative care, support for the sick and chemotherapy treatment would feature on the programme. The overall goal of the conference is to develop a plan of action to improve cancer care, research and training in Africa.