Pledge Pink supports Cancer Unit

UT Bank's Breast Cancer awareness initiative tagged “Pledge Pink,” has reiterated its commitment to provide medical support to patients with breast cancer.

Mrs. Zara Neequaye, Pledge Pink’s Lead Coordinator, also reiterated the group’s support towards the Oncology Department’s efforts in tirelessly providing diagnostics, treatment and post-cancer care to patients.

Mrs Neequaye stated this during a working visit to the Cancer Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to interact with care givers, doctors and patients of the Unit.

She intimated that the group would continue to partner the Unit in re-strategising and intensify public education on the prevention, treatment, and management of breast cancer.

She expressed concern that the disease had become the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women.

The visit formed part of an outreach exercise to bring the campaign closer to the people who were practically involved in the prevention, treatment and management of the disease, while interacting with them to have first-hand understanding and experience with breast cancer and the processes which go into cancer care in the country.

It was also in commemoration of activities in October every year, globally dedicated to awareness creation on the prevention, treatment, and management of the disease.

Dr. Verna Vanderpuje, the Deputy Head of the Cancer Unit, welcoming Pledge Pink to the Unit, complained about the high level of late diagnosis, which she said could be attributed to a lack of regular screening, or late reporting of symptoms of the disease to health facilities.

Touching on challenges in the delivery of quality care to patients, Dr. Vanderpuje cited the negative influence from peers, whose negative counsel to victims, that a mastectomy was the only option once a diagnosis had been made, as a serious barrier to early diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Vanderpuje stressed the importance of adopting preventive measures as opposed to having no choice but to succumb to the debilitating effects of a fully-blown cancer.

She revealed that the Oncology Unit grappled with many cases of which 25 per cent – 30 per cent were breast cancer cases.

Dr. Edwin Wiredu, Head of the Department of Pathology, stressed the need for male partners of affected female patients to extend the needed physical and emotional support to their loved ones to increase their chances of survival.

He, therefore, called for a change in mindset towards women with breast cancer.

Globally, the month of October has been dedicated to the creation of awareness on the prevention, treatment and management of the disease.

Breast Cancer remains the commonest cancer among women and the second commonest cancer worldwide.

More than 500,000 women worldwide have died from breast cancer and its associated mortality figures are still rising sharply.

Pledge Pink has, therefore, urged all women (and men) to undergo regular screening and seek early medical intervention.

Breast Cancer is preventable, treatable and manageable if detected early.