Media urged to promote accurate information on breast cancer

The media has been urged to provide health professionals with adequate airtime to educate the public on breast cancer and help dispel misconceptions about the disease.

The call was made by an oncology nurse at the Ho Teaching Hospital, Georgina Yawa Gyamfi, who spoke on behalf of the Breast Society of Ghana during an interview with Adom News.

She was speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month National Launch, Sensitisation and Screening Programme held at the GNAT Hall in Ho.

The programme was held under the theme: “Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters. United for a Breast Cancer-Free Ghana: Early Detection, Early Action, Better Outcomes.”

According to Nurse Gyamfi, misinformation about breast cancer continues to fuel fear and anxiety among members of the public, with some people relying on unverified information about the disease.

She expressed concern that some individuals allegedly pay media houses to disseminate inaccurate information on breast cancer, a situation she said could mislead the public and discourage timely medical attention.

She therefore appealed to media organisations to collaborate with qualified health professionals and dedicate more airtime to providing accurate information on the causes, prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

“We call on families and communities to support, not stigmatise, people affected by breast cancer. We call on the media, religious and traditional leaders, civil society organisations and community leaders to use their influence to promote accurate information, challenge harmful misconceptions and encourage timely care-seeking,” she said.

Nurse Gyamfi stressed that increased public education could encourage people to seek medical care promptly and help reduce the complications associated with late detection.

She further advised the public to obtain information on breast cancer from qualified health professionals and credible sources rather than relying on unverified claims circulating in the media and elsewhere.

The oncology nurse also cited the World Health Organisation’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative, established in 2021, which focuses on improving early detection and treatment outcomes.

She said the initiative aims for at least 60 per cent of breast cancers to be diagnosed at an early stage, diagnosis to be completed within 60 days, and 80 per cent of diagnosed patients to complete their treatment.

Nurse Gyamfi also appealed to the government to expand cancer care infrastructure by establishing and equipping more breast cancer treatment centres across the country.

“We therefore call on the government to establish and equip more cancer treatment centres across the country to ease the growing pressure on the two existing national cancer centres and ensure timely access to quality cancer care for all,” she added.

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