By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY
GRO Oilfield Alliance Ghana Limited has organised its annual breast-screening campaign for traders and students at Apremdo Market near Takoradi.
The screening is to look for signs of diseases such as breast cancer at an early age before a person has symptoms.
Esther Sarfoaa Eshun, Human Resource Coordinator-GRO Oilfields Alliance Ghana Limited, explained that: “The breast screening is to detect breast cancer at an early stage when the chances of survival are highest”.
She said this is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility as “GRO believes in giving back to society, especially within communities where it operates”.
She noted that most traders do not have time to check their breast to know their status. “We know you don’t have time to go to the hospital and check your breasts, that’s the reason we are always here in October.”
She said breast-screening is not only for the women, elderly and hildren but men as well, and encouraged all within Apremdo and its environs to take advantage of the opportunity offered by GRO and other groups to check their breasts.
Breast cancer, she said, does not look at gender and status in life: “Examine your breasts to see if there is any abnormality, since early detection helps save lives”.
Principal Midwifery Officer-Kwesimintsim Hospital, Mrs. Herty Eduku Amokyi, educating the women and students mentioned that breast cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in breasts.
She said the main cause of breast cancer is not known worldwide. “However, the major treatment is surgery and chemotherapy also helps to reduce the rogue cells.”
She added that early detection is the key. “I’d advise that women go to hospital twice a year to check their breasts and then do a mammogram once every year.”
She mentioned some of the pre-disposing factors of breast cancer as: “Being on family-planning for too long; not breast-feeding a baby after childbirth; and family history as well as wearing a brassiere for too long, among others”.
On clinical manifestation, she said sometimes there is no pain at all but the nipple becomes inverted and reddish.
Also, she said, there may be a lump radiating to the armpit, pain in the breast, discharge from the breast as well as sore on the breast.
According to her, Ghana Cancer Plan has a proposal for every woman that explains every woman should set aside the second or third day after every menstruation to do self-breast examination.
She advised all to keep their weight in check, eat fruit and vegetables and limit alcohol intake, avoid birth control pills, exercise regularly and especially avoid smoking.
