Not all diseases that affect the breast is cancer

Accra, Oct. 28, GNA - Dr (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, a Specialist in Breast Pathology on Saturday said not all diseases that affected the breast could be diagnosed as cancer.

She said only 10 per cent of diseases that affected the breast had been diagnosed as cancer. Dr Wiafe-Addai was addressing women who participated in a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and Free Screening Exercise in Accra under the theme 93Walk For Cure=94.

It was organised by Reach for Recovery, Ghana in collaboration with Breast Clinic-Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Peace and Love Hospital and Breast Care International based in Kumasi, Well Women Clinic of Trust Hospital and Breast Hope, Ghana. Reach for Recovery, Ghana is a group of breast cancer patients, survivors and medical practitioners and the walk was organised to climax activities marking this year's Pink October. Pink Ribbon was first used in October 1985 as a symbol of respect and commitment to fight breast cancer in the world and as a visual reminder of people affected by the disease. October has been declared Breast Cancer Awareness Month world-wide for people to show sympathy, support and love for breast cancer survivors by wearing pink ribbon.

Dr Wiafe-Addai said like other diseases that affected the breast, the cancer could be treated for the patients to survive and advised women to disabuse their minds from the notion that it was spiritual and sought cure from other sources and report to health facilities at an advanced stage of infection. She educated the women to undertake self examination of their breasts monthly and report early detection to the hospital for treatment because the cancer was not painful therefore; any lump in the breast should be reported.

=93It is the right of every woman to demand from medical practitioners an examination of their breasts for early detection and treatment,=94 Dr Wiafe-Addai added.

Dr Wiafe-Addai who is also the Executive Director of Peace and Love Hospital and Breast Care International, a Kumasi-based NGO said the essence of breast cancer awareness creation and treatment was to educate Ghanaian women about the reality of the disease in the country. She noted that the level of awareness in the country was very low therefore; there was the need to educate the people especially women =91to become breast cancer aware and not breast cancer scared'. Mrs Gladys Boateng, a Survivor and Director of Reach for Recovery, Ghana, said breast cancer could be treated when diagnosed early. Unfortunately, she said in Ghana most breast cancer patients sought assistance in other places before reporting to a health facility. 28 Oct. 06