Category: Medicine

October is a month designated around the world to deepen the awareness creation on breast cancer and the need for women, especially to regularly screen their breast for early detection of the disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines breast cancer as a disease in which abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours.

Breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and/or the milk-producing lobules of the breast, so when the cells spread into nearby breast tissue, they create tumors that cause lumps or thickening.

Studies have shown that greater proportion of all cases of breast cancer occur in women with no peculiar risk factors other than sex and age.

Statistics on Breast Cancer

Data from the WHO has revealed that in 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and about 685,000 died from it globally.

As at the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past five years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.

In Ghana, nearly 5,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, and almost half of them die of it because they are mostly diagnosed at more advanced stages of the disease.

This can be attributed to a lack of awareness and intensified education, as well as common myths and misconceptions about breast cancer.

In the Western Region, 26 women were diagnosed of the disease at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital between October 2022 and September this year.

The WHO through its Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) aims to reduce global breast cancer mortality by 2.5 per cent per year, thereby averting 2.5 million breast cancer deaths among women under 70 years of age globally between 2020 and 2040.

Risk factors

Mrs Jackline Addae, an Oncology Nurse Specialist, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that, all persons regardless of gender were at risk of contracting breast cancer.

She, however, said females were at higher risk of getting the disease as compared to men.

Mrs Addae noted that there are some factors that increase the risk of breast cancer in women, including increasing age, obesity, abuse of alcohol, family history of breast cancer and any other type of cancer and too much exposure to smoke.

Others are reproductive history such as menstruating as early as before 11 years of age, getting pregnant after age 30, tobacco use and postmenopausal hormone therapy among others.

Notwithstanding, about 50 per cent of those diagnosed of breast cancer are without these notable risk factors except being female and an adult of over 40 years.

Signs and symptoms

Breast cancer could have a combination of symptoms, especially when it is more advanced, but a lot of people will not experience any symptoms when the cancer is still early.

Symptoms of breast cancer include, a breast lump or thickening, often without pain change in size, shape or appearance of the breast, Abnormal or bloody fluid from the nipple.

However, most breast lumps are not cancer. Breast lumps that are cancerous are more likely to be successfully treated when they are small and have not spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Risk reduction

Mrs Addae indicated that regular screening of the breast is the cornerstone of early detection of breast cancer for timely treatment.

She advised lactating mothers to regularly breastfeed their babies exclusively for the widely accepted six-month period.

She also advised women against excessive intake of oral contraceptives, reduce alcohol use and avoid certain lifestyles that posed risk to their health.

‘Women should also regularly self-examine their breast at least once every four months for early detection of any abnormalities that could result in breast cancer’, Mrs Addae added.

Treatment

Treatment for breast cancer depends on the subtype of cancer and how much it has spread outside of the breast to lymph nodes (stages II or III) or to other parts of the body (stage IV).

Doctors combine treatments to minimize the chances of the cancer’s recurrence.

These include surgery to remove the breast tumor and radiation therapy to reduce recurrence risk in the breast and surrounding tissues. Doctors again use medications to kill cancer cells and prevent spread, including hormonal therapies, chemotherapy or targeted biological therapies.

Experts say treatments for breast cancer are more effective and are better done when started early and taken to completion.

Way forward

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, especially low- and middle-income countries.

To reduce the menace, there is the need for stakeholders to intensify public health education to improve awareness among women of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer for early detection and treatment.

Public education also needs to be combined with health worker education about the signs and symptoms of early breast cancer so that women can be referred to diagnostic services when appropriate.

Women must be encouraged to consult medical practitioners when they suspect breast cancer before it advances to next the stage.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Tema General Hospital and the Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate have marked the 2023 World Mental Health Day with a float through some principal streets in Tema to educate motorists and pedestrians on mental health. Ms. Gertrude Etornam Lamor, Principal Nursing Officer at the Tema General Hospital Mental Unit, speaking to the Ghana News Agency during the street procession, emphasised the need to increase awareness on mental health. According to Ms. Lamor, as part of their duties, they make routine home visits to clients and members of the community to check on them, see how they’re doing, and see if they’re following their medication schedules. They also talk to the patient’s immediate family about the progress of treatment. The principal nursing officer highlighted that stigmatisation of people with mental disabilities begins at home before it spreads to the community, and as part of their home visits, they educate close relatives so they can understand that the sickness is not communicable and be able to relate to and live well with them. She said that people with these issues are separated from feeding and washing together in restrooms. She said that mostly when people get the condition, their opinions are not regarded anymore, not taken care of, and disrespected, but families need to understand that there’s help available for mental health patients; however, they need to play a role in client recovery, and the stigma will be reduced. The community needs to also understand that mental illness can happen to anybody; it’s not in respect of persons, so anybody going through the ailment needs to be shown love and care like any other physical ailment, and like any other disease, mental illness can be managed and people will become stable. She revealed that once a year, mental health institutions, as part of their mandate, liaise with security personnel, doctors, and psychiatrists to bus nomads on the streets for institutional care. A Medical Officer at the Social Health Department, who took part in the exercise, pleaded with the public to desist from stigmatisation, especially for people who have recovered from mental illness, as it could make them depressed or trigger the condition. She said mental health did not only involve people roaming on the streets with dirty and tattered clothes and that not all wounds are visible. Emphasising that education and inquiries on mental health were easily accessible to the public at the Tema General Hospital. Mr. Pious Tay, Mental Health Coordinator for the Tema Metro Health Directorate, said mental health was the outward manifestation of sound interpersonal and intrapersonal interaction with environmental implications. He explained that for one to exhibit good mental health, they need to show the 360 effects, which means being able to express joy in times of happiness and sadness in times of unpleasant situations. He stated that having a positive self-image and self-acceptance helps improve mental health because they will not be bothered or worried about what people say about them. He added that being able to move in groups and converse among their peers is a sign of good mental health. ‘When you notice that that one person is always isolated and does not converse with friends, don’t ignore the person but rather advise the person to see the school counsellor or mental health professional,’ he said. Mr. Tay also encouraged the public that a clean and serene environment improves their mental health, so they should do well to keep their environment tidy and stop stigmatisation among themselves to enable healthy mental health growth.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Governor of the East Region, Grégoire Mvongo has burned more than 20MFCFA worth of smuggled medicines in Bertoua.

These drugs were burnt on October 12, 2023 at the Hysacam landfill in Bertoua as Cameroon joined the African community to commemorate the African Day Against Fake Drugs.

Cameroon commemorated the day on the theme, “Health for all: Committing to fight against fake drugs for a successful UHC”.

According to the governor, the aim of this measure is to combat counterfeit drugs trafficking in the legal supply chain.

Governor Grégoire Mvongo stated that; “Tampering of medicines is an offense to public health, we must all get involved in the fight against this traffic, in the interest of the people,”.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

A 20-year-old man is now in police custody after biting and eating the flesh of a 1-year-old baby in Mbouda, West Region.

The incident happened over the weekend in Ntouo, a neighborhood in Bamessingue village in Mbouda subdivision of the West Region.

The man whose name we got as Tchinda, confessed in a video now making the rounds on social media, that he “needed human blood to save his life” and so decided to take on the innocent baby by biting him twice on the chin and on the stomach and eating the flesh.

After being caught and tied by locals, the flesh-eater cried for help from onlookers.

“I won’t eat a child again, please help deliver me. Untie me please, I won’t escape” Tchinda can be heard pleading in the video.

“They were trying to take me away. I came and saw my brother, explaining to him the situation in which I found myself so that he could help save me but he did not care. I told him I was in danger, that they were asking me (for) human blood or I (would) die. One of my brothers said he would pray for me (but) I denied, requesting the presence of my mother” added the flesh eater.

The baby whom Tchinda bit and ate, also happens to be his nephew (his own brother’s child).

The baby’s life was only saved thanks to the intervention of the population and taken to a health facility for medical attention.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Noonkopir Afya Foundation, in partnership with the Kajiado County Government, Family Bank, ED Source Africa, and other partners, held a one-day breast cancer awareness campaign in Kitengela.

The campaign aimed at advocating the importance of breast health education and early detection by facilitating discussions between the community, medical experts, and key opinion leaders, as well as sharing informative materials.

While officiating the event, Kajiado County Governor’s spouse, Madam Edna Lenku, said that it is important for people to embrace routine cancer screening as early detection saves lives and costs in treatment.

‘Many families are losing their loved ones to cancer. It is therefore important for everyone to go for routine screenings. If cancer is detected early while it is still in stages 1 and 2, it is easily treated, but when it advances to stages 3 and 4, it will not only be difficult to treat, but it will also be a huge financial burden to the family and community,’ said H.E. Madam Lenku.

The spouse of the governor advised residents to visit the hospital for medical checkups whenever they have any medical issues rather than just resort to using herbal concoctions.

‘Due to our African traditions, we have embraced herbal medication, which has been effective before, but we must realise that times have changed. It is important for you to visit the hospital to get diagnosed and have the right treatment,’ she said.

Margaret Masara from the Noonkopir Afya Foundation said that the foundation decided to carry out free cancer screening services and an awareness campaign as many people are not aware that early detection saves lives.

‘Many people view cancer as a death sentence and would rather keep away from knowing whether they have it or not. It is therefore important to create awareness that it is not a death sentence, and once diagnosed early, it can be treated at a lesser cost than when it has advanced,’ said Masara.

She also emphasised the importance of having a well-balanced diet to build the body’s immunity and to avoid malnutrition, which often hastens the advancement of the condition.

Priscilla Wamuyu, a breast cancer survivor, also encouraged residents to go for routine cancer screening, saying that it saves a lot on costs.

‘I used to ignore the cancer screening services until I discovered two lumps on my left breast. I was diagnosed with cancer, and since it was in advanced stages, I had a mastectomy, which could not have been the case if I had gone for routine cancer screening,’ said Wamuyu.

Apart from the free breast and cervical cancer screening services, the residents also learnt about dietary interventions and wellness from the experts.

Free breast cancer screening will continue at Mawepi Centres in Miriam’s’ Place and Kilimani until October 30th.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Maker’s House Chapel International (TMHCI) will Tuesday visit the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and the 37 Military Hospital to offer financial support to their renal units.

Dr Michael Boadi Nyamekye, Founder of TMHCI, said the support formed part of the Church’s corporate social responsibility.

It is also in fulfillment of the gospel-extending help to the needy.

He said this while speaking at the end of this year’s ‘Experience Conference’ organised by the Church in Accra.

Dr Nyamekye said the Church would continue to offer the support every month to assist those who could not pay for their sessions.

He urged the Church to take up such tasks and assist the poor in society.

‘We are in times where the Church must lead the way,’ he said.

Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, Chief Executive, KBTH, who was present at the conference, expressed appreciation for the gesture.

He said many lives were dependent on the dialysis and that ‘it is heartbreaking to see people very frustrated and wondering what will happen to them next because of lack of funding.’

‘This is really God’s work and we thank you for the support,’ he added.

News of the management of KBTH increasing the cost of dialysis per session from GHC380 to GHC765 broke weeks ago.

The Hospital attributed the increment to high taxes on consumables.

According to KBTH, if the old charges were maintained, the dialysis unit would shut down in days.

This attracted reactions from individuals and institutions.

According to experts, between 13 and 17 per cent of Ghana’s population had some form of renal function impairment.

Nationwide, there are about 300 dialysis machines, with the majority in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions.

Four regions do not have a single dialysis machine.

People in these regions requiring kidney treatment travel to other regions weekely to seek care.

The cost of dialysis ranges from GH??300 to GH??1000 per session.

The median cost in government and quasi-government health facilities is GH??400.

The average number of sessions required a week is three.

Dr Nyamekye said the Church’s initiative was to support the Government and the facilities to address the situation.

During COVID-19 the Church through one of its outreaches, embarked on a ‘humanitarian mission’ and provided food and drinks to the less prileged and needy.

More than 10,000 households benefited from the mission nationwide.

The Church also helped with the renovation of a psychiatric hospital in Accra.

It creates job opportunities for the youth and offers scholarships to needy but brilliant students.

Source: Ghana News Agency