Doctors find Ghanaian women with strange breast cancer strain

Researchers at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the University of Michigan have discovered breast cancer strain in Ghanaian women not found in women in other parts of the world.

The collaborative work finds women in Ghana with what is known medically as Triple Negative Strain which is never found in black and white Americans studied in the eight-year period of the study.

The researchers conclude that Ghana requires a new treatment option, and are, therefore, advocating a review of international breast cancer treatment protocols to address specific types in each geographical area.

The team of researchers studied breast cancer strain in native black women in Ghana as well as black and white Americans.

Tissue samples taken from breast cancer patients are currently tested for bio-markers that show the rate of growth of the tumour cells which guide doctors in treatment options.

Doctors at the Oncology Department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and University of Michigan in the U.S, found the triple negative strain in women in Ghana is a more difficult to treat.

The team is now growing tumour cells in mice to facilitate a search for a cure for the disease in Ghana.

Dr. Baffour Awuah, who is the Medical Director and Consultant Radiation Oncologist at Komfo Anokye Hospital, said the tests with the mice were designed to find “the right kind of drug for the triple negative strain.

Under the Komfo Anokye-Michigan University collaboration, an ultra-modern tele-conference facility has been built to enable experts from the two institutions link up on breast cancer cases at Komfo Anokye Hospital.

The leader of the Michigan University team, Dr. Lisa Newman, said the tele-conference equipment is to enable the doctors talk to each other and collaborate in real time.

“We will also collaborate on breast cancer lectures and other type of lectures,” she added.