A Counsellor at Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), Mr. Michael Tagoe, has debunked myths that breast cancer symptoms include lumps in the breast.

He maintained that people  had been diagnosed with breast cancer without necessarily having lumps in their breast.

"Not all breast cancer cases involve lumps so clinical screening is important alongside self-evaluation", he noted.

Mr. Tagoe said this while speaking at the Health Symposium organised by the Senior Staff Association (SSA) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

He said although the causes of breast cancer were still unknown, alcohol use, tobacco use, ageing, family history and obesity, especially during menopause, increased a person's vulnerability to breast cancer.

“Female gender is the strongest breast cancer risk factor. Approximately 0.5-1 per cent of breast cancers occur in men,” he said.

Mr. Michael Tagoe speaking at the event

Mr. Tagoe said good practices including eating healthily, excising and breastfeeding provided some protection against the disease.

He, therefore, advocated regular examination of the breast as it contributes significantly to treatment outcomes.

A lecturer at the Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Dr Yvonne Adjakloe, advised women not to hesi­tate to visit a medical centre on the slightest sign in the breast to avoid escalation of the disease, adding “breast cancer when detected early could be treated, so we have to do self-examination or go to the hospitals for check-up so that in the event of any abnormality it could be caught early and treated effectively.”

She further called on participants to encourage loved ones to be involved in the screening.

Dr. Yvonne Adjakloe

“Let us encourage each other including our loved ones, our friends and community members to prioritize this screening ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life,” she said.

 In a speech read on her  behalf, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Prof. Rosemond Boohene, called for continuous education on the disease while urging women to take self-breast- examination and periodic testing seriously to avoid expo­sure or ensure early treatment.

“Don’t be scared when diag­nosed of breast cancer. There is treatment and you can survive the disease once you go through the appropriate procedures,” she added.