MedTrack — Breast Cancer in Ghana
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women worldwide, with approximately 1.4 million patients diagnosed annually. Half of all patients with breast cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which are experiencing a double burden of rising noncommunicable diseases with existing prevalent infectious diseases.
In Ghana, Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality. Ghanaian women are diagnosed at a younger age and in more advanced stages (III and IV).
Advancing age, Sex, and Genetic predisposition/ family history remain the significant risk factors. Prolonged use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of breast cancer, while early childbirth and breastfeeding are protective against breast cancer.
Diagnosis is made using a triple assessment, i.e., a suggestive clinical evaluation by a physician, a radiological examination by either an ultrasound scan or a mammogram based on age, and final confirmation by a tissue biopsy.
Patients are categorized based on their triple assessment as;
a. early disease
b. locally advanced disease, and
c. advanced or metastatic disease.
This categorization allows clinicians to standardize the treatments for breast cancer.
Breast cancer treatment does not always mean the removal of the breast. There are other treatment options, i.e., radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and currently, targeted therapy is in vogue. Targeted therapy has fewer side effects than the more popular chemotherapy as fewer bystander injuries occur.
Breast cancer surgery has evolved to include more conservative surgeries, which do not include the removal of the entire breast. Early disease detection allows better outcomes than conventional surgeries. Early reporting is essential for achieving an early diagnosis.
The age at diagnosis in Ghana is almost ten years younger than in global average; screening is vital for early detection as this correlates directly to improving outcomes and saving lives.
