Mammogram doesn’t cause breast cancer …Dr Victoria Partey-Newman sets record straight
Dr Victoria Partey-Newman
Mammograms are breast x-rays that help health professionals to detect the minutest lump or abnormality in the breast during screening. But it is surprising to note that some women think this method is rather the cause of breast cancer.
This is one of the myths that Dr Victoria Partey-Newman of the Ladybits Health and Wellness Clinic in Accra debunked when she was contacted by this reporter in line with the awareness campaign on breast cancer which was recently launched by New Times Corporation at the Kaneshie Market Complex in Accra.
According to her, some women who came to the facility refused to be screened with the mammogram for the fear that it could cause breast cancer.
Explaining the importance of the mammogram, she indicated that “when health professionals do the physical screening with their hands and are not clear, they usually refer the patient to do a mammogram scan so that they would have a better and clearer view of what is happening in the breast in order to detect a lump or abnormality.”
“So the notion that doing mammogram screening would cause breast cancer is untrue,” she stressed.
Highlighting other myths associated with the disease, she said breast cancer should not be associated with spirituality as there were many risk factors which exposed women to the disease.
She intimated that it was inappropriate to tag breast cancer a curse or punishment from the gods when women are diagnosed with the disease.
Dr Partey-Newman said excessive use of alcohol; smoking, obesity and lack of exercise among others could increase the risk of contracting the disease, and, therefore, advised women to adopt healthy lifestyles and be proactive in going for regular check-ups and breast screening.
While urging women to report any anomaly in their breasts or any part of their body promptly at the hospital, she noted that there was no scientific proof that anti-perspirant deodorants could also cause breast cancer.
Background
Dr. Victoria Partey-Newman hails from Odumase- Krobo in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of Eastern Region. She is the fourth of seven children born to Mr. Archibald Partey and Mrs. Beatrice Partey.
She had basic education at St. Martin de Porres School and continued at Wesley Girls where she studied General Science.
“Right from my childhood, I have had keen interest in showing compassion to the sick especially those around me. My siblings used to tease that I like it when people fall sick but I tell them I just like to help the sick that’s when I got the title” Dr. WHO.” My friends were not surprised when I chose to pursue medicine in the university,” she recalled.
Dr. Partey-Newman said she developed keen interest in women’s health having had the opportunity to head the women’s clinic in the hospital she had worked for four years.
“During this period of ‘servitude’, was when I knew there was no turning back and I pledged my life and course to cater for the health needs of the average Ghanaian woman in the area of breast cancer and cervical cancer with regard to breast screenings and cervical cancer screenings which is a form of secondary prevention in the field of public health,” she explained.
Following this, she decided to pursue a Master’s Programme in Public Health at Ensign Global College to have complete knowledge in her endeavours as a Woman’s Health Advocate.
For the past eight years, she had been involved in organising breast and cervical cancer symposia and screenings in various organisations. Through this, she was honoured as one of the recipients of the “Community Service Award” Ensign Global College in 2021.
According to her, the call to empower and attend to the health needs of women led to the establishment of Ladybits Health and Wellness Foundation in 2019, one of the wings or subsidiaries of the Ladybits Health and Wellness Clinic, a preventive service clinic for women.
“The foundation focuses on women in the rural areas and outskirts of Accra who are disadvantaged and cannot afford to have their breasts examined or have Pap smears done for them on regular basis.
“We empower them by teaching them breast self-examination, symptoms and signs they should look out for when it comes to breast and cervical cancer so that they can report early which eventually increases their chances of survival,” she noted.
Dr. Partey-Newman is a twin. She is married to Bishara Nartey Newman and blessed with a son. She loves swimming, singing and enjoying good conversations. Her twin sister is Ms. Vida Partey.
She said “my mother is my strongest inspiration as she always encouraged us to aspire to greater heights.”
By Portia Hutton-Mills
