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Manya Krobo area records high breast cancer cases –Dr. Arhinful

kencitymediagh
Oct 27, 2017
2 min read

Breast cancer is said to be increasing rapidly in the Manya Krobo area in the Eastern Region.

A surgeon at the Volta River Authority Hospital in Akosombo, Dr. Charles Arhinful disclosed this during a breast cancer awareness campaign through the principal streets of Kpong, Odumasi and Somanya on Wednesday.

He told Oman News that records from the breast care centre at the VRA hospital showed that more than 100 women had been diagnosed with breast cancer since 2015.

He explained that the increase were as a result of refusal by women in the Manya Krobo area to go for early examination, which is the best prevention method of avoiding breast cancer.

He said although the VRA’s breast care centre offers free screening and treatment to women with breast cancer, some of them after being diagnosed with the disease don't return to continue with the treatment and rather seek assistance from pastors thinking that the disease is spiritual.

"Since 2015 we have seen 100 women who have breast cancer and out of this almost 50 % when we have diagnosed them they defaulted further management and they came back when the situation has worsened," he said.

This, according to Dr Arhinful, has been the major challenge in controlling the disease in the area.

Dr. Arhinful refuted the misconception which has been associated with breast cancer that the disease is either caused by witch craft or a curse.

“We realize that there is this misconception amongst those with breast cancer that the disease cannot be treated. They believe that it is caused by either witch or is a curse. Some also believe that when they go through vasectomy they will die so they don’t come," he noted.

He said VRA has set aside every Wednesday to offer free treatment to breast cancer patients and urged women in those areas to take advantage of the facility and get screened.

Staff of the Volta River Authority used the opportunity to educate residents in Odumasi, Kpong and Somanya about the breast cancer.

Led by the Corporate Affairs Manager of VRA, Mrs. Gertrude Koomson the staff distributed hundreds of breast cancer educational materials to the residents to enable them become aware of the symptoms of the disease and report to hospital early.