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17.10.2008 Health

Third Annual Cancer awareness walk in Kumasi

17.10.2008 LISTEN
By gna

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), in collaboration with partner health institutions have organized the third Cancer Awareness walk in Kumasi on Friday to sensitize the public about Breast Cancer.

The Health Walk was also meant to educate the public on early detection and treatment.

It was on the theme: “United against Cancer; Celebrating life.”

Participants included Ghana's Girls Guide, Women's Aglow International, Saint Louis training College and Senior High School, Ghana Police Service passed through the Central Police Station to the Prempeh II Street through Kejetia to Pampaso at Adum and ended at the National Cultural Centre.

They carried Placards with inscriptions such as “Breast Cancer is not exclusive to women”, “Good bye to Breast Cancer”, “Say no to Breast Cancer” and “Early Detection of Breast Cancer makes it curable.”

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Madam Mary Agyapong, a Nurse, outlined some of the early signs of the disease as lumps, swollen breast, abnormal shaping of breast, nipple discharge and persistent pain in breast.

She added that women at their menopausal age are also at risk of contracting the disease.

Madam Agyapong said the disease could be prevented through regular exercises, low intake of fatty diet, as well reducing alcohol intake and smoking, adding that the intake of more fruits and vegetables could also prevent breast cancer as well as preventing obesity.

Dr. Baffour Awuah, Head of the Oncology Directorate of KATH, advised the public particularly women to do regular breast examination for at least once in a month and report any signs of abnormality in the breast to the nearest health care centre for early treatment, adding that breast cancer is 98 per cent curable if detected earlier and it is preventable.

He urged men to also take breast cancer education seriously, saying about one percent of the disease affect men also.

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