• Dr Wiafe-Addai

Women should have monthly breast self-examination after menstrual cycle to detect early lump in the breast, Dr Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospital has cautioned.

According to her, breast cancer develops in middle age because hormones act on the breast prior to the menstrual flow which becomes engorged and tender for easy detection of lumps.

Dr Wiafe-Addai, who also the Founder of Breast Care International (BCI), disclosed this to The Spectator ahead of her annual “BCI Ghana for the Cure”, Breast Cancer Walk in October.

“Self-examination after menstrual cycle can be done by squeezing the nipple of each breast gently between your thumb and index finger thus one can report to the hospital right away if any discharge or fluid comes out from the nipples or any lumps or changes in your breast” she explained.

The CEO added that symptoms such as, swelling, redness and darkening, change in size, dimpling of the breast must be reported to a nearby hospital.

She advised women to do clinical breast screening at least once in every year for early detection.

Dr Wiafe-Addai said that for women aged 35 and above, mammograms were used to detect breast cancer where the use of finger may not be able to feel lumps.

“Every gender can develop breast cancer but the female has a high risk of developing breast cancers because the breast cells are constantly exposed to female hormones which stimulate growth of cancer cells” she explained.

Dr Wiafe-Addai, stated that only 10 per cent of breast cancer patients had positive family history whereas 90 per cent of them had no family history.

She added that breast cancer was a ‘number one killer of women’ and therefore urged individuals, the media, health sector and the government to create awareness of the disease.

She appealed to the government to ensure mammograms were provided in all regional hospitals in the country for early detection of breast cancer.

Dr Wiafe-Addai who has many years of experience as a Breast Surgeon further told women to do away with the misconception that breast cancer had no cure and one would die at all cost if he or she had breast cancer.

“It is a non-communicable disease and,therefore,one can survive it “she stressed.