The Breast Society of Ghana, a foundation dedicated to empowering and supporting individuals diagnosed with breast cancer, has launched ‘Pinktomber 2025,’ a breast cancer awareness campaign. 

The Pinktomber 2025 is a joint action by all stakeholders on the theme: “Catch It Early, Treat It Right and Survive It.”

It is a clarion call on health professionals, survivors, media, and the public to break the silence, reduce the stigma, and promote awareness. 

Dr Mary-Ann Dadzie, Senior Specialist, Oncology and Radiotherapy, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, and Guest Speaker, in a presentation, said early diagnoses with the right treatment were the surest way to ‘beat’ breast cancer. 

She said breast cancer was in stages (stage zero to 4) and usually, all patients in stage one with the right treatment would be alive, but patients in stage four would have a low survival rate. 

“The earlier one is diagnosed and treated, the more likely one survive. Unfortunately, we have about 70 per cent of our women present themselves in stages three and four, and the outcomes are not good. That’s what the public must know,” Dr Dadzie said. 

She said several factors, including fear and ignorance of the public, patients preferring alternative medicines, torturous referral systems to get diagnosed, negative attitudes of health workers, infrastructure gaps, cost, stigma, and lack of social support, had over the years stood in the way of the breast cancer fight. 

The Senior Specialist also said the target against the cancer was to ensure that “…at least 60 per cent of breast cancer patients are diagnosed in stages one and two, patients with early lump and signs should be diagnosed in 60 days, and 80 per cent of the diagnosed patients have comprehensive breast cancer treatment.”

She said it was imperative to educate the public, especially women, on the symptoms of breast cancer for them to know that “most lumps are not painful, nipple sometimes pulls in, there is a change in the size of the breast sometimes, there can be swelling of the breast and sometimes armpit, and change in skin, amongst others.”

Dr Dadzie added that health professionals must also be educated on misdiagnosis and mismanagement, whilst calling for sensitisation and collaboration for and with spiritual, religious leaders and alternative medicine providers, since it had been evident that breast cancer patients visit them for a cure. 

“All these actions are geared towards winning the fight and having survivors. With early diagnosis and

right treatment, we build a vibrant community of survivors. If we have a vibrant community of survivors who can serve as a point of hope to women, the narrative can change,” she said.

Mrs Louisa Yayra Shaibu, a survivor for over three years, who had her two breasts removed but shows no sign of that, said her husband and family had been supportive, calling on husbands and the public to be supportive and help eradicate the stigma. 

Dr Josephine Nsaful, Breast Society of Ghana, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said breast cancer could be cured when detected early and treated well, as many survivors had become testimonies for the public.

She said throughout October and beyond this year, they would be advocating for early detection through breast screening, adding that “every woman must do their monthly breast examination and go for a clinical breast examination once a year since it does not cost so much.” 

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