October is recognized worldwide as the breast cancer month.
During this month, many breast cancer campaigns are carried out but after the month ends, both government and non-Governmental Organizations aligned to fight the canker become dormant waiting till the following year to launch another fight.
This has not been sustainable in fighting the disease.
Many women die during the period after October when advocacy and support for breast cancer patients grind to a halt.
Government is the worst culprit.
October has come again and the ‘noise’ about breast cancer will be the order of the day till the month dies.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685,000 deaths globally.
At the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.
Breast cancer occurs in women at any age after puberty but with increasing rates in later life.
Breast cancer mortality changed little from the 1930s through to the 1970s when surgery alone was the primary mode of treatment (radical mastectomy).
Improvements in survival began in the 1990s when countries established breast cancer early detection programmes that were linked to comprehensive treatment programs including effective medical therapies.
The major challenges in fighting the disease are lack of education and support services for patients especially in developing nations.
In Ghana, there are few health facilities with treatment equipment making care for breast cancer costly.
Those who are unable to afford the treatment have the only option of going through excruciating pain and eventually surrendering to their early graves.
Under its flagship programme Crime Check Foundation’s (CCF), Health Check Series, gave support to many underprivileged breast cancer patients.
A 43-year-old mother of two, Agnes Dogbe, was a resident of Kasoa in the Central region of Ghana who struggled to access proper medical care due to financial difficulties.
At the time she was reached, her breast had ‘rotten’ emitting bad odour.
The stench that engulfed the house compelled the landlord to nearly throw her out of the room she even struggled to pay.
In an interview with crimecheckghana.org, bedridden Agnes said her husband had fled because of her condition.
Her siblings who had to support her, also decided to neglect her. “I have been calling my siblings to come and support me but they have refused.
When the ailment started, my elder sister took me to the Accra Regional Hospital popularly known as Ridge Hospital, but she refused to continue helping me. I had to go for a scan of my breast which cost Seven Hundred Ghana Cedis but when I told my sister she said she could not afford it.” She said.
Ms Dogbe couldn’t hold her tears as she narrated her predicament.
Her water hawking business she earned Fifteen Ghana Cedis, collapsed and she and her teenage children endured starvation.
“I don’t have anybody to take care of me. My landlord has also taken the keys to my room asking me to leave the house because of my stinking rotten breast. But if I leave I don’t have any other place to find shelter for my children and myself. Please help me”. She appealed.
Death ended Ms. Dogbe’s painful experience as people wished for her.
The sad event happened in May 2020.
Watch Agnes Dogbe’s story
A comprehensive and sustainable advocacy and support campaign was needed to stem the death tide.
Crime Check Foundation (CCF) only provided support from its coffers for breast cancer patients but not with a dedicated action plan to fight the disease.
In 2022, CCF suffered the misery of losing Amina Oppong Kwarteng, the wife of the Executive Director of the Foundation, Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng.
The late Mrs. Oppong Kwarteng died of breast cancer, while receiving treatment.
While she was under care, she pledged to vigorously carry out breast cancer advocacy and give patients support.
This gave birth to the establishment of Meena Breast Cancer Foundation (MBCF).
For the past year, MBCF has been taking its support and advocacy on the disease to the doorsteps of the general public.
During its early days, the Foundation supported a penniless breast cancer patient, Sarah Asare with Ten Thousand Ghana cedis.
What was meant to be a moment of joy, turned into tears when the Foundation pulled a surprise at the mother of four.
Madam Asare nearly collapsed when she was handed the cash amount to enable her to seek treatment.
The poor woman lived in a dilapidated wooden kiosk with her children and other two relatives because she said she could not afford a decent room.
Madam Asare told crimecheckghana.org that her husband abandoned her a decade ago and since then she has been toiling to cater for her children.
Until MBCF met her, she had been sick but seeking medical care was far from her thoughts because of financial constraints.
Madam Asare was fortunate that the cancer had not developed to the life-threatening stage.
With the support, she has almost completed her Chemotherapy treatment and now she has her life secured.
Watch as Sarah Asare nearly collapses while receiving Ghc 10,000 gift
Aside, from Sarah Asare many other women are surviving because of the support they receive from Meena Breast Cancer Foundation to get medical care.
Abiba Abu lost her breast while living with the disease for seven years.
She got support from her family to enable her to undergo treatment but the assistance ceased because they exhausted their resource.
Early 2023, during her first visit at the offices of Meena Breast Cancer Foundation, she was assisted to continue her Chemotherapy treatment, which she could not complete due to financial constraints.
She was later enrolled on the ‘payroll’ of MBCF to enable her to get full expenses covered till she recovers.
Unfortunately, she took a break from paying attention to her health. According to the mother of four, she rather gave attention to her husband’s ill health while her condition worsened.
“My husband also suffered a stroke in the same period I fell ill. Life has not been easy because he is also not working. I had to take care of him so I could not attend my scheduled appointments with doctors,” Mrs. Abu said.
After the medical hiatus, Mrs. Abu returned with a ‘burst’ breast, which has developed, into a huge wound.
“The wound has extended to affect my stomach,” she cried.
The Foundation gave her further support and now she is doing well.
The likes of Abiba benefited from Meena Breast Cancer Foundation’s year-round sensitization and support.
They were not identified in October. They would have long been dead if MBCF waited for October to support them.
Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours.
If left unchecked, the tumours can spread throughout the body and become fatal.
Breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and/or the milk-producing lobules of the breast. The earliest form (in situ) is not life-threatening.
Cancer cells can spread into nearby breast tissue (invasion).
This creates tumours that cause lumps or thickening.
Invasive cancers can spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs (metastasize). Metastasis can be fatal.
Treatment is based on the person, the type of cancer, and its spread.
Treatment combines surgery, radiation therapy, and medications.
By Rudolph Nandi
