The Breast Society of Ghana hosted its 6th Annual Conference at the Fiesta Royale Hotel, bringing together key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, Members of Parliament, health professionals, and breast cancer survivors.
This year’s theme, “Advanced Breast Cancer: The Underserved Majority – Challenges and Opportunities,” focused on addressing the growing burden of advanced-stage breast cancer in Ghana and improving survival rates for both men and women.
In her opening remarks, the President of the Breast Society of Ghana, Dr. Josephine Nsaful, underscored the urgent need for nationwide awareness and education on breast cancer.
“We need to educate people in every part of the country about breast cancer — whether it’s a man or a woman,” Dr. Nsaful said.
She stressed that early detection not only saves lives but also significantly reduces treatment costs.
“Early detection will save you the expensive cost of treatment and also save the government from spending so much money on cancer treatment,” she added.
Dr. Nsaful expressed concern about a recurring trend, noting that breast cancer in African women is often diagnosed at later stages compared to women in other regions.
“We realize that black women usually have stage three or stage four cancer — something that is less common among women of other races,” she observed.
Highlighting efforts to reach underserved populations, Dr. Nsaful spoke about ongoing outreach programs in rural communities that provide education on breast cancer and available treatment options.
“We have educated women in rural areas about breast cancer and the treatment options available,” she explained.
She further noted that while new treatment options exist internationally, many of them remain out of reach in Ghana, saying the Society is actively working to bring such therapies into the country to improve survival outcomes.
“There are treatment options available that women in Ghana are yet to receive,” she said.
Dr. Nsaful reaffirmed the Society’s commitment to supporting all breast cancer patients, regardless of the stage at which they are diagnosed.
“Every patient deserves to fight breast cancer, no matter the stage,” she stated.
She urged stakeholders and policymakers to become active advocates for awareness, early diagnosis, and accessible treatment in order to boost survival rates across Ghana.
