Health advocates have called for greater emphasis on early screening and prompt medical attention, warning that breast cancer awareness alone is not enough to reduce the impact of the disease.
The call was made by Medical Officer at Acacia Medical Center and public health advocate, Dr Raphael Achana, and public health nurse and adolescent health advocate, Betty Etornam, during an episode of Springboard Hangout with Comfort Ocran.
According to the health professionals, people must move beyond simply knowing about breast cancer to actively checking for changes, seeking medical attention when necessary, and taking advantage of available screening opportunities.
Dr Achana encouraged women to be “breast aware” by knowing the normal appearance and feel of their breasts so that unusual changes can be identified early. “If there are any masses that can be felt on touching your breast, you will be able to feel it because you know your breast. If there’s an unusual discharge from your nipple, you will be able to identify that because you know your breast. So the simple message here is: be breast aware, know your breast,” he said.
The health advocates also stressed the need for people to take advantage of breast cancer screening programmes organised by hospitals, churches, schools and other organisations, particularly during October. Ms Etornam expressed concern that some people still fail to attend community screening programmes even when such services are made available to them.
She urged the public to seek proper medical attention when they notice anything unusual rather than delay treatment or turn to unqualified sources. “Please take the opportunity to go have the screening for your breast, and then if you find out anything, don’t stay at home. Don’t go to any herbal healer, traditional medicine healer, or anything. Just rush to the hospital and get screened. Early detection saves lives,” she stated.
The advocates also called for breast cancer education to reach communities that may have limited access to television, radio and social media. Ms Etornam recounted an outreach programme she conducted at a basic school in a rural community where the children had little knowledge about breast cancer.
“We should go into the communities, not just on TV, on radio, on social media. We should go into the community,” she said.
Dr Achana also highlighted the wider effects of breast cancer, noting that the disease can affect patients physically, socially, emotionally and financially.
“Breast cancer doesn’t only have a physical impact on the individual, but there is definitely that social impact. There is that emotional or mental effect on the individual, and there is definitely that financial impact that the individual suffers,” he said.
He further explained that treatment does not follow one fixed timeline, as the duration depends on the type of breast cancer and how far it has spread. He noted that some individuals he knew had taken between two and three years to become cancer-free.
The health professionals also encouraged families and partners to support people undergoing treatment, particularly because of the emotional and financial demands associated with the disease.
Ms Etornam called for greater male involvement in supporting women during treatment, including accompanying them to health facilities and assisting with treatment costs where possible.
Watch the full episode https://www.youtube.com/live/xahSSkhE3x0?si=5NzSoAP3KGCKZ8S
About Springboard Hangout
Springboard Hangout is a funducative, youth-centred show hosted by Comfort Ocran. It features inspiring stories, practical skills, and real-life experiences aimed at educating, entertaining, and equipping the next generation. The programme airs every Saturday at 4:00 PM on Joy Prime TV and on the Springboard Channel on Facebook and YouTube. The discussion formed part of the October awareness series on Springboard Hangout with Comfort Ocran, which is focusing on breast cancer and cerebral palsy awareness and encouraging the public to pay greater attention to health, early detection, and timely medical care.