The month of October is dedicated as an annual International Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The month-long celebration is aimed at health campaigns to increase awareness of the disease and its dangers if not attended to in the most appropriate ways.
The occasion is also used by Breast Cancer Charities to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure for the general populace.
READ ALSO: Breast Cancer treatment must be decentralized in Ghana - Medical Officer
Kimathi & Partners, a leading Corporate Attorneys in Ghana with a global reputation for clients’ satisfaction, also observed this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Day on 25th October 2019 at their corporate premises in Accra, Ghana.
This adds to their strident efforts in a number of social interventions including scholarship for the blind in tertiary education, Dzorwulu Special School, New Horizon, Disable Association, etc.
A Leader of a team from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary team, Dr. Amma Anima Aboah, advocated for proper diagnostics and treatment of Breast Cancer contrarily to unapproved means of treatment.
She cautioned against many unorthodox practices which has no scientific basis and rather worsens the plight of patients. Breast cancer can be cured if detected early and effective treatment is applied.
Early detection of Breast cancer can be through physical checks of the breast either by self-examination or another person (preferably spouse), and mammogram screening. Detection of lumps in the breast, liquid drops from the nipples, breast swollenness, etc. must be immediately reported to the appropriate healthcare centre.
According to an IARC Globocan 2008 report, 1.38 million new cases and 458,000 deaths from Breast Cancer occur each year. With the increasing world population, it is expected that Breast Cancer cases will also increase and therefore the need to step up educational efforts to ameliorate the situation.
The Managing Partner, Kimathi Kuenyehia, Snr. noted that since Breast Cancer affects both men and women, it is imperative that all are involved in the educational endeavour to fight the menace. He pledged their unflinching support to Breast Cancer education.
This year, they started with their staff numbering over 50 and hope to step out to include many more people in the future.
Stressing on education, Kimathi Kuenyehia, Snr., decried that the majority of Breast Cancer-related deaths happened in low and middle-income countries where Breast Cancer education and access to proper treatment remain a challenge.
He applauded efforts made by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in promoting comprehensive Breast Cancer control programmes. He has faith in their Firm’s effort to go a long way to support the great work of the WHO in fighting against Breast Cancer.
READ ALSO:Â Scientists Discover A New Potential Way To Stop Breast Cancer Spreading
By: Nii Armah Addy