Keta: The Ghana Health Directorate in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region has urged the public to engage in regular health checks to facilitate early detection of cancers, as part of efforts to improve prevention, treatment, and survival rates.
According to Ghana Web, Madam Margaret Dovlo, the Keta Municipal Public Health Promotion Officer, explained that cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, invasion of adjacent tissues, and potential spread to other parts of the body, known as metastasis. She highlighted that actions such as tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, high Body Mass Index (BMI), physical inactivity, and infections like HPV and hepatitis B are some of the main causes of cancer.
Madam Dovlo emphasized that while anyone can develop cancer, certain factors increase the risk, including age, family history, tobacco use, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and exposure to radiation or carcinogens. She noted that cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths, but emphasized that it could be cured if detected early and treated effectively.
The Public Health Promotion Officer advised that the best method to prevent cancer is through early screening and detection. She recommended that individuals get screened every two or three months to know their status. She identified breast cancer, lung cancer, colon and rectum cancer, prostate cancer, and skin cancer (non-melanoma) as the most common types of cancer in Ghana.
Madam Dovlo urged the public to adopt healthier lifestyles, including avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, engaging in regular physical activity, and getting vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B. She encouraged utilizing available screening services at various health centers to reduce cancer incidence and mortality.
She highlighted that 'World Cancer Day' focuses on supporting patients and survivors through counseling and rehabilitation services. Government officials have pledged increased funding for cancer research, equipment, and training of healthcare professionals in the country. Research by the Ghana News Agency also revealed that prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the country, while cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in females.
This year's 'World Cancer Day', celebrated on February 04, focused on the theme, 'Closing the cancer care gap: Community action for prevention and early detection in Ghana.'