Although breast cancer risk increases with age, younger women are becoming more vulnerable to the disease and Celestine Amewornu is one.
She shares her story of bracing the odds to getting married and having children after being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26yrs.
Several myths and misconceptions surrounding breast cancer in Ghana have left many young women in dilemma of whther or not to seek help during the early stages of the disease.
Celestine as a young lady who was barely 26yrs old, with little knowledge about the disease found herself in a state of shock and confusion following her diagnoses. She assumed it was a disease for persons aged forty plus.
According to her, but for the strong support system, she won’t have made it past the three surgeries including the removal of one of her breasts and undergoing chemotherapy and radio therapy.
It’s been 18yrs since her diagnosis and surgeries in 2006 and she is happily married with two children, something she thought was impossible.
“It’s a disease that you would not feel anything, so by the time you realize, it has become serious. I knew nothing about it. It was a sister who noticed that one of my breasts was looking different. My family and friends supported me. Especially my fiancé then who has now become my husband. He encouraged me in all the surgeries I had. My life did not change. I got married after and I have two children. It’s been 18years since I was diagnosed and I am fine.” She shared.
For Celestine, testing and seeking treatment options available is not entirely the problem.
“There was nothing like health insurance. Everything was paid by my fiancé and his friends and my family. That is why we need government to help and the NGOs as well to help especially at the rural areas. The education has not gotten down. People are dying due to lack of funds,” she added.
General surgeon at the ridge hospital, Dr Alfred Twumasi, who attends to most of these patients, was worried more younger females are reporting cases at the facility.
His youngest case this year was a 19-year-old.
“Unlike the western world, the cases we are recording in this area are younger. The youngest case I saw was 19 years and the last three cases I attended to on Monday were all in their 30s- 30, 31, 32. So we need to intensify awareness and education” he said.
Every year, more than five thousand cases of breast cancer are reported in Ghana with over two thousand lives lost to the cancer.
However, the Lack of awareness, education and late diagnosis of cases, myths and misconceptions continue to hinder efforts in the disease management.
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Source:
3news.com
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