The Founder and Director of the Health Education Awareness Group (HEDUCA), Christiana Hansen, has urged Ghanaians to stop attributing cancer to spiritual causes and instead seek timely medical attention and regular hospital check-ups.
She stressed that early detection and prompt treatment remain critical to improving survival rates and reducing complications associated with breast cancer.
Speaking on Adekyee Mu Nsem, a morning programme on Ahotor FM 92.3, hosted by Nana Dogbe on Friday, Ms Hansen expressed concern about misconceptions surrounding breast cancer, which she said continue to discourage some people from seeking appropriate medical care.
She dismissed the belief that breast cancer affects only older women, explaining that the disease can occur at different ages. She also noted that although family history can increase a person’s risk, individuals without a family history of the disease can still develop breast cancer.
Ms Hansen further cautioned against the misconception that breast cancer affects only women, emphasising that men can also develop the disease, although cases among men are relatively uncommon.
“Cancer is not spiritual,” she said, warning that attributing the disease to supernatural causes could delay diagnosis and treatment.
She advised patients against relying on self-medication or remaining at prayer camps instead of seeking professional medical care, noting that such practices could allow the disease to progress before appropriate treatment begins.
According to her, late diagnosis significantly complicates cancer treatment and can worsen patients’ outcomes. She also highlighted the psychological and emotional burden cancer places on patients, stressing the need for greater public awareness, early intervention and appropriate support.
Breast cancer remains a major public health concern
Ms Hansen’s remarks come during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a period dedicated to raising awareness about the disease, promoting early detection and encouraging access to appropriate healthcare.
Available data underscore the scale of the challenge in Ghana. According to GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates, the country recorded approximately 5,026 new breast cancer cases that year, representing 31.4 per cent of new cancer cases among women and making breast cancer the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the country. The dataset also recorded an estimated 2,369 breast cancer deaths.
Evidence also suggests that breast cancer affects Ghanaian women at a comparatively younger age. Findings from the Ghana Breast Health Study put the mean age of breast cancer diagnosis at approximately 49 years, compared with 62 years among Caucasian women.
Health advocates have repeatedly identified late presentation at medical facilities as a major obstacle to effective breast cancer management.
Breast Care International (BCI), a Ghanaian breast cancer advocacy organisation, has raised concerns about patients turning to non-medical remedies before seeking hospital care, sometimes allowing the disease to advance and spread to other organs.
A 2015 report estimated that approximately 60 per cent of Ghanaian women diagnosed with breast cancer presented at an advanced stage.
Beliefs that breast cancer results from witchcraft, evil spirits or spiritual affliction, as well as the perception that the disease is simply a matter of fate, have also been identified as misconceptions that can discourage early medical intervention.
Men are also at risk
Beyond the misconceptions surrounding age and family history, health experts continue to emphasise that breast cancer is not exclusively a women’s disease.
Although male breast cancer is rare, studies estimate that it accounts for approximately 0.5 to one per cent of breast cancer cases worldwide.
Men with the disease may notice a firm, often painless lump in the breast area. However, because awareness is generally lower among men, symptoms may be overlooked or attributed to other conditions.
Researchers have also noted that men remain underrepresented in breast cancer clinical trials, meaning that many treatment recommendations for male patients are adapted from evidence gathered through studies involving women.
Health professionals therefore encourage men to seek medical assessment if they notice unusual breast changes.
Hansen raises concern over menstrual health
In addition to breast cancer awareness, Ms Hansen addressed menstrual health, urging women not to dismiss persistent or severe period pain as a normal part of menstruation.
She encouraged women experiencing recurring or debilitating menstrual pain to consult qualified healthcare professionals for assessment and appropriate treatment.
Persistent menstrual pain can sometimes be associated with conditions such as endometriosis, a disorder in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it.
Endometriosis is estimated to affect approximately one in 10 women and girls of reproductive age worldwide. Diagnosis can be delayed for years, partly because severe menstrual pain is often normalised or dismissed.
Women are advised to seek medical attention when period pain interferes with daily activities, including work or school, or occurs alongside heavy menstrual bleeding, painful bowel movements or pain during urination.
Public urged to recognise breast cancer warning signs
Meanwhile, Dr Beatrice Wiafe-Addai of Breast Care International has encouraged women to seek medical evaluation if they notice unusual changes in their breasts.
Potential warning signs include a lump or swelling, redness or darkening of the breast skin, changes in breast size or shape, skin dimpling and unusual nipple discharge.
Although these symptoms do not always indicate cancer, medical assessment is important to establish their cause and determine whether further investigation is necessary.
The health advocates say sustained public education, regular health checks, the rejection of harmful misconceptions and timely access to medical care are essential to improving breast cancer outcomes in Ghana.
They are therefore calling on individuals, families and communities to support efforts to promote early detection and encourage people experiencing possible symptoms to seek professional healthcare without delay.
Story by Andy Koranteng
