Removal of cancerous breast does not cause death

The head of the surgery department of the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Dr Foster Aponsah-Menu has denied that, the removal of cancerous breast causes death.

He explained that, often, some of the breast cancer patients do not seek medical treatment early so by the time they report to the hospital, their condition may be very bad.

He said most of the time the cancer may have spread beyond their breast and affected other parts of their body.

Dr Aponsah-Menu said in such situations, efforts to save the patients include the removal of the cancerous breast.

He explained that, in situations, where the patient reports on the unset of the disease, the patient is saved and in many cases, the surgical operation involves the removal of only the affected part of the breast or the whole breast to save the patient.

Dr Aponsah-Menu was speaking at the maiden meeting of over 35 breast cancer patients, who had survived, after the removal of their breast within the last two years, at the Koforidua Regional Hospital.

The meeting was sponsored by the JEAD Foundation, a non-governmental organization that supports women suffering from breast cancer to seek medical care.

Dr Aponsah-Menu charged women, who had survived breast cancer operations to champion the campaign to motivate women suffering from breast cancer to seek early treatment and help reduce the death of many women who die from breast cancer due to ignorance.

He explained that, the breast cancer survivors are the living testimonies that the removal of cancerous breast does not kill.

Mr Seth Twum, the hospital pharmacist advised breast cancer patients against the use of unprescribed drugs and herbal preparations.

He advised breast cancer patients to ignore the campaign by some radio presenters that chemotherapy is dangerous for them and advised breast cancer survivors to report any adverse effect of any drug prescribed for them by medical officers.

Mr Judith-Ellen Awuah–Darko, Chairman of the JEAD Foundation said, she had breast cancer at the age of 70 and after the removal of her breast, she had lived for another eight years.

She said, the foundation was established to help and support deprived women suffering from breast cancer to seek early treatment and advised breast cancer survivors to come out to motivate other people suffering from breast cancer to seek medical care.