The management of Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua is worried about what they describe as the resistance of residents to chemotherapy, a treatment for cancer.
According to the hospital authorities, cancer treatment is approached with apprehension by some because of its side effects like hair loss, anaemia and nausea.
[contextly_sidebar id=”mjBTEk8uS7TcJRISm5sZxalVq31lDuMH”]According to Citi News checks, this has however discouraged patients diagnosed with cancer and their family members from seeking chemotherapy, a situation medical experts say is causing the death of many people.
In a Citi News interview, the Medical Superintendent at the Koforidua Central Hospital, Dr Anim Boamah said misconceptions about chemotherapy are leading to the death of many people.
“The treatment for cancer is chemotherapy, and I have heard people actively discouraging people even on the radio about women going in for chemotherapy, and I think it is a very bad thing to encourage on our airwaves. We know of a lot of people who have had cervical cancer, breast cancer and have gone in for chemotherapy and are doing fine. With breast cancer one of your breasts may be taken off at the extreme case, but it is all in the vain that you survive but now you hear people propagating that chemotherapy is not necessary and what you need is a natural remedy”.
Dr. Anim Boamah revealed how patients who go in for natural medicines end up coming back to the hospital with an aggravated situation.
“The sad aspect is that these patients who go to such places to seek for natural remedies end up coming here when the natural remedies do not work for them, and it may be too late for them. We do not hear of such stories, but several of them end up reporting to our hospitals very late with excuses that someone advises them not to take chemotherapy but to get other alternatives”.
Dr. Boamah then advised the general public to report early to hospitals at all times.
“I want to use this medium to educate them and let them know that chemotherapy will not kill them, they should just seek early treatment by reporting promptly to the hospital for us to save them timely”.
Men also at risk
Dr Anim Boamah also expressed worry about the lack of education on cancer in the country called on all Ghanaians to prioritize their health by regularly visiting the hospital for check-ups.
“We are all at risk of getting cancer, and they come unannounced, but the good thing is that one can be screened so we should avail ourselves for that. When it comes to breast cancer not only women are at risk but men are also at risk of developing breast cancer so the men should cultivate the habit of visiting the hospital regularly for checks and screening to be able to prevent themselves from a lot of diseases and cancer-related disorders as well, the importance of this is to be able to identify the diseases at an early stage to help save lives and also reduce cost because as they say prevention is better than cure, if you identify the disease at the early stage treatment is much easier and chances of survival are also high”.
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By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku | citinewsroom.com | niikanarku@gmail.com
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