Cancer in Ghana

Current estimates indicates that over 24,000 new cases of cancer are recorded each year at Ghana.[1] In 2020, 15,802 Ghanaians died from cancer.[2][3] A 2015 study in Kumasi recorded breast and cervical cancer raked high records among females. Prostate cancer recorded the highest among males. Breast, liver and cervical were leading in both sexes.[4]

## Contents

* 1 Cancer by type
* 1.1 Breast and cervical cancer
* 1.2 Liver cancer
* 1.3 Prostate cancer
* 2 Childhood cancer
* 3 History
* 3.1 Treatment program
* 4 See also
* 5 References

## Cancer by type[edit | edit source]

### Breast and cervical cancer[edit | edit source]

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females in Ghana.[5] In 2020, there were 4400 cases of breast cancer and 2797 estimated cervical cancer cases.[6] Over 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and more than half of the figure die in Ghana.[7] In 2018, it was estimated that over four thousand cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and about 1800 women could die from cancer.[8]

Myths about breast cancer are one of the major reasons women fail to access treatment. Often, people report their cancer only when it is advanced, making it difficult to cure.[9][10]

Rebecca Foundation, headed by the First Lady of Ghana, launched a project to reduce breast and cervical cancers in Ghana. It includes capacity building training for over 90 health professionals. The project started in West Gonja, Birim South, and Sekyere West.

### Liver cancer[edit | edit source]

Liver Cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths in the Volta Region of Ghana.[11]

### Prostate cancer[edit | edit source]

In 2020, Korlebu recorded over 1000 cases of prostate cancer. Most prostate cancer cases are often reported to the hospital at advanced stages due to reliance on herbal treatment.[12]

## Childhood cancer[edit | edit source]

Over a thousand childhood cancer cases are recorded in the country each year. These cases are often reported late making treatment difficult and expensive.[13][14] In 2022, four childhood cancers were covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS): acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Burkitt lymphoma, retinoblastoma, and Wilms tumour.[15][16] Only 30% of children with cancer seek healthcare due to financial difficulties.[17]

The country has two comprehensive Paediatric Oncology units at the Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals. There are eight paediatric oncology fellows in training, three paediatric oncology pharmacists and 18 nurses in paediatric oncology.[13]

In 2022 the first Lady of Ghana commissioned a hostel for children cancer patients to alleviate transportation costs in seeking health care.[18]

The largest referral hospital in the country Korle bu has pledged to reduce childhood cancer by 2030 with a vision for every child patient to obtain equal access to treatment.[19]

## History[edit | edit source]

For many years, the mere mention of cancer was deemed a taboo in Ghana as it signals contamination or death.[20]

The first cancer registry in Ghana was established in Kumasi as the first population-based cancer registry in 2012 to provide information on cancer cases.[21]

### Treatment program[edit | edit source]

Ghana has a national cancer control plan. However, cancer rates are in an increasing trend due to unpreparedness. The country is faced with limited cancer care and lack of cancer education for care workers. Top quality care is only offered in the two main tertiary hospital that are in the two major cities of Ghana. Cancer care costs are expensive which proves tough for patients at the advanced stages of cancer. These coupled with no health insurance cover for cancer and the competition with alternative medicine. The country has made some advances in relation with care facilities and treatments. There are occurrences of misdiagnoses and inability for patients to afford medication.[20]

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Healthcare in Ghana

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ "Over 24,000 cancer cases recorded annually". The Ghana Report. February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
2. ↑ "Cancer killed 15,802 Ghanaians in 2020
Globacan". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
3. ↑ Witzel, Isabell (2020). "Male Breast Cancer Patients: Lack of Evidence". Breast Care. 15 (1): 3–5. doi:10.1159/000505636. ISSN 1661-3791. PMC 7098273. PMID 32231491. Archived from the original on 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
4. ↑ Amoako, Yaw Ampem; Awuah, Baffour; Larsen-Reindorf, Rita; Awittor, Fred Kwame; Kyem, Gloria; Ofori-Boadu, Kwame; Osei-Bonsu, Ernest; Laryea, Dennis Odai (2019-03-25). "Malignant tumours in urban Ghana: evidence from the city of Kumasi". BMC Cancer. 19 (1): 267. doi:10.1186/s12885-019-5480-0. ISSN 1471-2407. PMC 6434839. PMID 30909876. Archived from the original on 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
5. ↑ Amoako, Yaw Ampem; Awuah, Baffour; Larsen-Reindorf, Rita; Awittor, Fred Kwame; Kyem, Gloria; Ofori-Boadu, Kwame; Osei-Bonsu, Ernest; Laryea, Dennis Odai (2019-03-25). "Malignant tumours in urban Ghana: evidence from the city of Kumasi". BMC Cancer. 19 (1): 267. doi:10.1186/s12885-019-5480-0. ISSN 1471-2407. PMC 6434839. PMID 30909876. Archived from the original on 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
6. ↑ GNA (2022-10-19). "Rebecca Foundation launches project to reduce breast, cervical cancers". Ghana News Agency. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
7. ↑ "3,000 women diagnosed with Cervical Cancer annually – Health officials". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2019-02-23. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
8. ↑ "1,800 Ghanaian women could die of breast cancer in 2018 – Study". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2018-10-03. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
9. ↑ GNA (2022-10-16). "Myths surrounding breast cancer are major threats to treatment - CCTH". Ghana News Agency. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
10. ↑ GNA (2022-10-13). "Breast Cancer: Over 70 per cent diagnoses in advanced stages". Ghana News Agency. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
11. ↑ Adadey, Samuel M; Languon, Sylvester; Ayee, Richmond; Quansah, Darius NK; Quaye, Osbourne (June 2020). "Incidence and mortality of cancer in the Volta Region of Ghana". Experimental Biology and Medicine. 245 (12): 1058–1065. doi:10.1177/1535370220931514. ISSN 1535-3702. PMC 7357145. PMID 32498552. Archived from the original on 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
12. ↑ GNA (2021-11-13). "KBTH records over 1, 000 cases of prostate cancer in 2020". Ghana News Agency. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Over 1,000 childhood cancers diagnosed in Ghana annually". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
14. ↑ "GRAPHIC TV: Latest Ghana News Videos - Over 1200 Ghanaian children are diagnosed with cancer every year - Dr Emma Mitchell". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
15. ↑ "NHIS now covers childhood cancers: Sickle cell drug also catered for - Bawumia". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
16. ↑ "NHIS now covering four childhood cancers". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2022-08-26. Archived from the original on 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
17. ↑ GNA (2021-11-12). "Children with cancers relieved of transportation challenges". Ghana News Agency. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
18. ↑ GNA (2021-11-12). "Children with cancers relieved of transportation challenges". Ghana News Agency. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
19. ↑ GNA (2021-01-28). "Korle-bu Teaching Hospital to reduce childhood cancer by 2030". Ghana News Agency. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Cancer in My Community: Working to Eliminate the Stigma of Cancer in Ghana". Cancer.Net. 2021-09-14. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
21. ↑ Laryea, Dennis O; Awuah, Baffour; Amoako, Yaw A; Osei-Bonsu, E; Dogbe, Joslin; Larsen-Reindorf, Rita; Ansong, Daniel; Yeboah-Awudzi, Kwasi; Oppong, Joseph K; Konney, Thomas O; Boadu, Kwame O; Nguah, Samuel B; Titiloye, Nicholas A; Frimpong, Nicholas O; Awittor, Fred K (2014-05-23). "Cancer incidence in Ghana, 2012: evidence from a population-based cancer registry". BMC Cancer. 14 (1): 362. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-14-362. ISSN 1471-2407. PMC 4046022. PMID 24884730. Archived from the original on 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-03-26.