Cancer can be controlled if...

Accra, March 11, GNA - Dr Kwame Anyane-Yeboah, a clinical geneticist on Wednesday said cancer, like any other disease was a genetic disease which could be controlled if diagnosed on time and treated adequately. He said the search for a permanent cure for cancer was the next most important project after space discovery, adding that, " while the search for the cure continues, individuals can use medical tests as a way of managing genetic malfunctions."

Dr Anyane-Yeboah was delivering the second in the series of the 2004 Aggrey-Frazer-Guggisberg Memorial Lectures at the University of Ghana, Legon. He was speaking on the topic: "Who are at Risk for Cancer, Diabetes, Sickle-cell and other Diseases? Its All in Our Genes"! He said research had shown that cancer was more predominant in the breast area among Ghanaian women, saying this must be checked quickly and regularly.

Professor Kwesi Andam, Vice Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology (KNUST) supported by his Legon counterpart, Professor Kweku Asenso-Okyere, chaired the lecture.

He also called on Ghanaians to adopt regular medical check-ups as part of their lives. "This would ensure that early symptoms of body malfunctions that may lead to grave consequences are prevented." Dr Anyane-Yeboah, a Director of Clinical Genetics in the Department of paediatrics, Columbia University, New York, noted that the incidence of cancer and its related diseases were global and not the unfortunate preserve of a particular group of people.

He urged people with cancers and other related diseases to seek early treatment to avoid the pain and discomfort that usually accompanied the disease.

"The ability of people affected to handle the ailments, depends to a large extent on how much they subject themselves to regular quality medical check ups."