The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has called on members of the general public, particularly males, to have their breasts checked to prevent the contraction of breast cancer.

In a circular, the GHS noted that "both men and women can get breast cancer," hence "let’s take the opportunity to get our breasts checked this Pinktober."

"Both males and females can get breast cancer, but the disease mostly (99%) affects females. Some people also have greater chances of getting Breast Cancer due to the exposure of certain risk factors," it noted.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 0.5–1% of breast cancers occur in men.

The Service stressed the fact that early detection saves lives.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours. If left unchecked, the tumours can spread throughout the body and become fatal.

Breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and/or the milk-producing lobules of the breast. The earliest form (in situ) is not life-threatening. Cancer cells can spread into nearby breast tissue (invasion). This creates tumours that cause lumps or thickening.

Invasive cancers can spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs (metastasize). Metastasis can be fatal.

Treatment is based on the person, the type of cancer and its spread. Treatment combines surgery, radiation therapy and medications.

The treatment of breast cancer in men follows the same principles of management as for women.

According to the WHO, "In 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685 000 deaths globally. As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer."

Certain factors increase the risk of breast cancer including increasing age, obesity, harmful use of alcohol, family history of breast cancer, history of radiation exposure, reproductive history (such as age that menstrual periods began and age at first pregnancy), tobacco use and postmenopausal hormone therapy.

Approximately half of breast cancers develop in women who have no identifiable breast cancer risk factor other than gender (female) and age (over 40 years), the WHO adds.