The Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has challenged stakeholders to move breast cancer advocacy beyond awareness campaigns and focus on ensuring patients can access timely diagnosis and treatment.
She said awareness would have little impact if women who detected symptoms early were unable to obtain the diagnostic tests and treatment required.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah made the call while launching the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month, being observed under the theme “Early Action, Better Outcomes.”
She said breast cancer remained the leading cancer among women in Ghana, with an estimated 4,650 new cases and about 2,060 deaths recorded annually, underscoring the need for early detection and prompt treatment.
“Creating awareness alone is not enough,” she said, stressing the need to strengthen systems that connect early detection to timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.
She said Ghana’s response to breast cancer was aligned with the World Health Organisation’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative, which focuses on health promotion, early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.
The Deputy Minister urged the public to seek medical attention promptly after noticing breast lumps, changes in the breast skin or nipple, nipple discharge or swelling in the armpit.
She also cautioned against misconceptions that could delay treatment, particularly the belief that a biopsy spreads cancer.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah stressed that painless breast lumps should not be ignored, urging women to seek professional medical assessment rather than wait for symptoms to worsen.
She called on stakeholders to use the awareness month to promote practical interventions that would increase early detection and ensure patients receive appropriate care without unnecessary delays.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
