Watch Out For Prostate Cancer

Breast Cancer campaigner, Dr Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, President, Breast Care International (BCI) Ghana, expressed sadness that little noise was being made about prostate cancer.

She disclosed pathetically that more men were heading to their graves through prostate cancer in Ghana now, but surprisingly, awareness about the deadly nature of prostate cancer was not being made.

Dr Wiafe-Addai therefore called for more noise to be made about prostate cancer in the country so that men would be aware of the existence of the disease so as to help save precious human lives.

She was speaking during the celebration of Ghana's version of this year's BCI/Globeathon, an international health fair which was held at the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to raise awareness about women cancers.

Held on Sunday, the annual international event was organized in more than 80 countries across the globe, concurrently. It was attended by health experts, traditional leaders and government officials among others.

Dr Mrs Wiafe-Addai was also not enthused about the little noise being made about cancer-related diseases like breast and cervical cancers in the country, a development which had made it possible for cancer to claim more lives.

She wished that the overwhelming noise that the country made about HIV/AIDs which had helped to reduce the devastating effects of the disease, would be extended to the cancers as well to help save lives.

Dr Wiafe-Addai insisted that 'cancers are curable and survivable' so she passionately called for concerted effort from all and sundry to help reduce the damning effects of the cancers.

The BCI Ghana President observed that ignorance and misconception about cancer was the main reason that people were being killed in large numbers by cancer diseases.

She was of the hope that cancer deaths in people would be reduced significantly in the country if the deadly nature of the cancers was highlighted and explained thoroughly to the people.

During the programme, pamphlets about cancer were distributed to the attendants and medical doctors one-after-the-other lectured the people about cancer and there was a photo exhibition about cancers.

President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei on his part appealed to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene to allocate land in Kumasi for the establishment of 'Asanteman Cancer Registry.'

He said the Asanteman Cancer Registry, would among other things, help research work and also make it possible for health experts to know the extent of cancer in the area so they could strategize adequately the disease.

Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Samuel Yaw Adusei, on his part, expressed sadness about the misconception about cancers in the country, a development which had contributed to increase in cancer-related cases in the country.

He urged people suffering from cancers not to visit shrines and churches to seek cure for their diseases, stating that early detection and prompt treatment by a qualified medical doctor was the best way to battle cancer.

Oheneba Adusei Poku, the Akyempimhene, commended BCI Ghana and in particular, Dr Wiafe-Addai for her tireless efforts over the years to battle cancer in Ghana, urging her to sustain her good works.

Mamponghemaa, Nana Agyakomah Difie, also warned the people not to visit shrines and churches for treatment to cancer diseases, stating that hospital was the required place for cure for cancer diseases.

 FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi