The maiden National Cancer Survivors Month ended with a gala over the weekend and a call for the government to prioritise cancer care in Ghana.
The event, organised by the Cancer Support Network Foundation (CSNF), was the culmination of a series of activities throughout June, including cancer screenings, education, a cancer survivors walk, and cash donations to support the treatment of cancer patients.
The gala was held under the theme, “Rising Strong Beyond Cancer: A Celebration of Survivorship and Hope for All.”
The Head of the Breast Unit at the surgical department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Florence Dedey, revealed during the event that Ghana saw a 60 percent increase in cancer cases from 2008 to 2022, resulting in an estimated 27,400 diagnoses.
She said mortality also rose by 70 percent within the same period, with an estimated 18,000 deaths.
Dr Dedey emphasised the importance of cancer prevention, stressing the need for awareness creation and frequent screenings to save lives.
According to her the most common cancers in Ghana include breast, liver, cervix, prostate, ovary, and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
She noted that the risk of developing cancer before age 75 in the country is currently one in every nine males, one in every seven females, and one in eight for both sexes. The risk of dying from cancer before age 75 stands at one in every 12 males, one in every 11 females, and one in 12 for both sexes.
Dr Dedey also highlighted the often-neglected challenges faced by cancer survivors during the survivorship period.
“Cancer survivors are generally expected to just snap back to normalcy and continue with life irrespective of all these challenges they may face,” she remarked.
Sharing her personal experience, Dr Dedey stated that “I was diagnosed in August 2016 with breast cancer, underwent the required treatments, and I am still taking my daily tablets of hormonal therapy. So, I speak to you not only as a clinician treating cancer patients but also as a cancer survivor.”
She further explained that cancer was a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, with predictions indicating an increase in the next two decades.
The impact of cancer, she said extends beyond the physical, affecting patients psychologically, socially, economically, and spiritually, with implications for their families, society, and the nation at large.
Dr Dedey praised CSNF’s initiative to celebrate Cancer Survivors Month in Ghana and stressed the need for continuous support during the post-treatment phase.
She encouraged individuals and institutions to support advocacy groups like CSNF to achieve better outcomes for cancer patients and survivors.
Founder of the CSNF, Dr Juliet Appiah Quansah said cancer was not a death sentence and encouraged survivors to share their stories to give others hope.
The President of the foundation, Mr Akwasi Osei, lauded the courage and determination of all cancer survivors, stating that their stories inspire everyone.
The editor of the Ghanaian Times Newspaper Mr David Agbenu was recognised during the programme for prominently featuring health issues, particularly those related to cancer morbidity and access to cancer care, in the newspaper’s various publications.
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