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Breast is a vital organ, protect it – Dr Caiquo

By James Amoh Jnr, GNA

Tema, Nov. 13, GNA –
Dr Francis Caiquo, Head of Surgery Department, Tema General Hospital, has
described the breast as an important organ of the body whose structure
reflected its special function and needed to be protected.

He called on the
public to be proactive about the health of their breast by seeking professional
medical screening, “we should not only go to the hospital for breast screening
during the advocacy period but we must adopt a proactive healthy lifestyle to
check the state of our breast consistently”.

He said checking the
breast regularly was vital as some breast cancer symptoms were invisible and
unnoticeable until one undertakes medical examinations.

Dr Caiquo said this
when the Ghana News Agency visited the Tema General Hospital to assess the
outcome of a Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign his outfit undertook in the
October breast cancer awareness month.

The campaign, which
was geared at increasing awareness about the disease, also sought to help
people through early detection education and provide enhanced support.

Dr Caiquo said some
224 women were screened out of which 57 had abnormal growths in their breast
and were still undergoing examination through biopsy.

He said better
screening by routine check-ups, increased awareness and continually improving
treatment options are important in preventing the disease.

Though rare, Dr
Caiquo said, breast cancer in males was possible and were usually detected as
hard lump underneath the nipple.

This, he said, also
leads to mortality because men are unlikely to assume that such lumps are
cancerous and for that reason never seek early treatment. 

He said breast
cancer is on the increase and is the most common cancer among women claiming
many lives.

He called for an
intensified awareness campaign targeting women in rural communities in their
local dialects on the importance of routine check-ups and
self-examination. 

GNA

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