Dr Saiid Kwasi Adu, a homeopathic specialist at Last Homoeopathic Clinic, has urged the public to pay attention to unusual changes in the breast and seek medical attention early to ensure chances of successful treatment of breast cancer.
He said breast cancer affected both men and women, although women were significantly more likely to develop the disease.
Dr Adu said the disease could begin in the milk ducts and, when not detected and treated early, spread to other parts of the body.
He identified advancing age, family history of breast cancer, obesity, alcohol consumption and some long-term hormonal exposures among factors associated with increased risk.
He, however, stressed that people without identifiable risk factors could also develop the disease and should therefore remained vigilant.
Dr Adu said warning signs included a lump in the breast or armpit, changes in the size, shape or appearance of the breast, an inward-pulling nipple and unusual or bloody discharge from the breast.
He said persistent breast pain not associated with the menstrual cycle should also be medically assessed.
Dr Adu cautioned that not every breast lump was cancerous, explaining that some tumours were benign, and urged people not to panic but to seek professional assessment when they detected abnormalities.
He advised people with a family history of breast cancer to discuss appropriate screening with health professionals and to seek prompt medical attention whenever they noticed suspicious changes.
The specialist also encouraged regular physical activity, including walking, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting alcohol consumption as part of measures that could reduce some breast cancer risks.
He said early detection was particularly important because treatment outcomes were generally better when the disease was identified before it spread “we may not be able to avoid breast cancer 100 per cent, but we may not die from it if we are vigilant,” he said.
He said awareness, regular checks where appropriate and prompt medical attention were essential in reducing deaths associated with breast cancer.
