By | 2 November 2018

GIMPA Organises Symposium on Breast Cancer 2018

The GIMPA Clinic in collaboration with the Gender and Development Centre has put together a series of activities to mark this year’s breast cancer awareness month.
The activities are a symposium to sensitize staff, student and the community on the dangers of breast cancer and a breast screening exercise.
The theme for the programme is ‘Every Woman, Everywhere Deserves to Live! Step up, Create Awareness and End Breast Cancer.’
In his opening statement at the symposium, Dr. Daniel Adumuah Nortey of the GIMPA Clinic stated that breast cancer was the biggest enemy of women worldwide.
According to him, breast cancer was killing women than Ebola and AIDS. It was for this reason, that it was necessary for women to engage in regular screening to establish early diagnosis.
“Breast cancer is only curable when detected early, and that is the reason for our gathering here today,” he said
Dr. Nortey however, attributed the delay in most women getting treatment for the condition to the fear that the affected breast or breasts would be removed “since they are the pride of every woman,’’ he added.
He therefore, cautioned women to desist from such behaviors as not all breast cancer cases end up in the removal of the breast.
In his presentation Dr. Isaac Newman Arthur, a clinical Psychologist at the Ghana health services who gave an overview of breast cancer generally said cancer cells are rebellions cells that destroy the body.
He indicated that there were about 200 different types of cancer cells and one of them was the breast cancer cells. He gave infections, smoking, and obesity, among others, as the risk factors.
He further explained that breast cancer could even affect the cognition of the affected persons when it spreads to the brain to form a tumor.
Dr. David Okoh a surgical specialist at the Achimota hospital who gave a presentation on the pathology of breast cancer said cancer was the abnormal uncontrollable continuous replication of cells which will inevitably lead to the formation of a tumor.
“It is the second leading cause of death in female and that is the reason why we continue to sensitize women and men on the need for early detection and treatment” he said.
He indicated that men could also be diagnosed with breast cancer, explaining that male breast cancer constitutes about 1% of breast cancer cases. Occurrence is highest among men between the ages of 60-70 years.
Dr. Beatrice Akua Sakyiwah lauded the clinic for the initiative and encouraged everyone to participate in the screening exercise for early detection. The chairman for the programme was Prof. Anthony Sallar, the dean of students.