Breast Cancer -leading cause of death in African women

Kumasi, Sept. 06, GNA - Breast Cancer has been identified as the leading cause of death among African women between 35-55 years, Dr (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe Addai, a Surgeon and Specialist in Breast Pathology announced in Kumasi.

She said it accounted for 24 per cent of all cancer cases and attacked one woman in 10 and claimed countless lives. Dr Wiafe Addai who is also the President of Breast Care International (BCI) an NGO on Breast Cancer Awareness and Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospital at Oduom, Kumasi, was speaking at a free mass breast screening for women within Kumasi Metropolis jointly organised by the two institutions and Management of OTEC FM, a Kumasi-based radio station.

About 700 women were clinically screened after they had been educated on the process of breast self-examination, causes, risk factors and what to do in case of any breast disease.

Dr Wiafe Addai urged women to undertake regular breasts examination to ensure early detection of infections or cancer. She said it was ideal for women to undertake breast examination at least monthly to ensure their safety.

Dr Wiafe Addai stressed the need for an aggressive approach to breast cancer awareness creation and concerted efforts from stakeholders, corporate bodies, companies and individuals to reduce breast cancer mortality and morbidity by 20 to 50 per cent. She also educated the women on Hepatitis B a disease which she claimed was equally deadly and more infectious than HIV/AIDS. Dr Wiafe Addai explained that it was a liver disease caused by a Hepatitis B virus and transmitted through contact with infected blood and body fluids.

"The virus causes chronic infection and years later develop liver scarring (cirrhosis) or liver cancer," she added. Dr Wiafe Addai therefore, advised the women to know their status through voluntary testing at health centres and those who proved negative should get vaccinated as a preventive measure and those who tested positive sought the necessary counselling and effective treatment.