Focus 1 Media in collaboration with Bethel Methodist Medical Center has held a free Breast Cancer Screening at Jubilee Grounds as part of activities marking October as breast Cancer awareness Month.
The activities on the Grounds included interactions on relevant issues like breast cancer, LGBTQI and day-to-day developmental challenges of participants which was also carried live on radio starting with Spice FM’s Adzekye Mu Nsem.
All other prime time programs including Spice Center Sport and Kekete followed suits.
Patrons who participated in the excercise got their breasts examined and blood pressure checked.
Participants got the opportunity to be educated on some risk factors, symptoms and myths of breast cancer whereas some female patrons were also taught the correct procedure for self-breast examination.
Participants whose medical situation required additional medical attention were adviced and referred accordingly.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Spice News, Dr. Augustine Benedict Ackon, Medical Director at the Bethel Methodist Health Facility said that the free screening was an opportunity for market women and regular people who wouldn’t take time off their busy schedule to go for checks to also have themselves checked without any inconvenience .
The excercise aimed at detecting early conditions to ensure that patients get early treatment.
He went ahead to share the outcome of the screening excercise for the day.
“We have been able to target large population with the aim of detecting early cancer. Many people did not show any breast cancer symptoms. There were a good number of women who had normal discharge from their breasts but those with brownish discharge is a cause to worry because that is an early symptoms of the disease. There was a woman with lamp in the breast which was clearly affecting the architecture of the breast, this is a clear sign of cancer, we have been able to get some few cases which we are going to follow up.”
Dr Ackon also lamented on the cost of treating breast cancer in the country and shared the facility’s willingness to go the extra mile in securing fund to support victims.
“Cancer treatment is expensive, so as we are also delebrating on how to secure some funds to support the women who might need additional support for further treatment”.
He advised women to get themselves screened regularly beyond the month of October, especially participants at age 35 and above.
“Most of them are above 35 years therefore we will advice them to do a regular check up since they stand the higher risk of getting the cancer.”
He noted that women who turn to overly rely on their spiritual authorities for guidance have also been advised to resort to medical facility upon detecting early symptoms since many women have become victims of spiritual manipulation leading to late treatment of the condition.
He was hopeful that in the coming years Bethel Methodist Health Center and Focus 1 Media will have similar collaborations of mutual benefit to continue supporting society.
The second session of Spice FM and Beach Fm free breast cancer screening is expected to come off on 29th October at the New Market, Quarters.
More exclusive pictures of the event:
