Health professionals have urged women not to utilize unregulated herbal remedies or breast enhancement products to treat breast-related difficulties, stating that some may include hazardous chemicals or postpone the identification of serious illnesses.
In Accra, the Ministry of Roads and Highways hosted a breast cancer awareness event, during which the warning was given.
According to Abigail Asiamah, a midwife at Ridge Hospital, some women put off getting medical care when they see changes in their breasts since they use herbal medications or other unverified therapies.
According to her, such actions may make it harder for health professionals to identify and address issues at an early stage.
“For our women who are in sorrow and go to the herbalist, there is hope. Go to any medical facility and get treatment as soon as possible,” she advised.
Madam Asiamah also expressed her worries about the breast enlargement solutions that are offered for sale, warning that some of them might have chemicals or other ingredients that could be harmful to the body.
“The medications we use to improve our breasts could contain hazardous compounds. Instead of using drugs that the doctor hasn’t prescribed, let’s use the proper channel to get things done,” she stated.
As Ghana participates in worldwide initiatives to raise awareness of breast cancer in October, which is recognized globally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the caution is issued.
In Ghana, breast cancer continues to be a serious public health issue, and improving treatment results depends on early identification.
According to figures from the Global Cancer Observatory, Ghana reported 5,025 new breast cancer cases in 2022, accounting for 18.4% of all cancer diagnoses in the nation.
The disease caused 2,369 fatalities, making up 13.2% of all cancer deaths that year.
These data highlight the need for prompt medical evaluation and attention to breast changes, according to health professionals.
Symptoms like a lump or swelling, nipple changes, changes in the size or shape of the breast, and odd discharge shouldn’t be disregarded.
Even if not all breast alterations are malignant, medical professionals advise having unusual changes evaluated by a trained expert rather than treating them based on presumptions.
Early identification can lower the possibility of the illness advancing to more advanced stages and raise the likelihood of successful treatment.
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