SUCKING BREAST PREVENTS BREAST CANCER?

Did God create sickness? will come out very soon but it is important to let you know that be Breast cancer aware and informed everyday and every month, not only the pink month, October. This leads us to what Breast cancer is.

Be breast cancer aware! Photo credit: Goldman Awuku.

Breast cancer is the disease of the Breast and its surrounding tissues caused by abnormally growing cells that invade healthy cells of the Breast. As these abnormal cells grow, they form a lump which enlarges as time goes on if not detected early, and spread to other organs and systems like the lungs, liver, brain, bone etc via the blood vessels or lymphatic vessels (metastasis).

Incidence

In 2012, more than 2000 new cases in Ghana with 1000 deaths (Breast cancer clinic, KBTH).

In 2018, more than 4,600 new cases in Ghana with 2000 deaths, 580 new cases alone in KBTH (Breast cancer clinic, KBTH).

Causes

No known cause but risk factors which means that those factors increase the chance of getting the disease. These include the following:

1. Common among women (female sex). According to WHO, 1.2% of Breast cancer cases is men.

2. Increasing age especially female.

3. Positive family history like mother, sister or daughter.

4. Previous history of breast cancer.

5. Female hormones like estrogen leading to early onset of menstruation.

6. Having no children.

7. Obesity.

8. Lack of exercise.

9. Alcohol intake.

10. Fatty diet and others.

Be breast cancer informed! Be responsible!
PhotoCredit: Goldman Awuku.

Signs and Symptoms

1. Obvious lump in the breast (feeling a lump in your breast during breast examination).

2. Sometimes, you may not feel a lump in the breast but a swollen axilla (armpit), there is alarm to seek for medical advice.

3. Partly swollen around the breast/change in the size of the breast (when you see the breast is enlarged than the normal). Naturally, one breast is bigger than the other but unusual enlargement is an alarm.

4. Discoloration around the breast like orange or dark brown.

5. Rashes or sores like the skin is peeling off especially around the nipple.

6. Inverted nipples/ nipple retraction (but this might be normal for some people).

7. Dimpling on the breast when looking in the mirror or during breast examination.

8. Nipple discharge such as bloody discharge.

NB; when there’s pain in the breast, then it is likely breast cancer has advanced, please don’t wait for pain before seeking medical attention but the above signs and symptoms because early detection, early treatment saves life.

Also, not all lumps in the breast are cancerous.

Clinical Assessment And Diagnosis

1. Signs and symptoms

2. Breast examination

Breast examination (self examination).
Video credit; Breast health foundation, #clearthestigma.

3. Mammogram: this helps to detect breast cancer that wasn’t detected during breast examination (micro-metastasis). Sometimes, no lump is detected during breast examination but after mammogram, it showed breast cancer.

4. Ultrasound scan

5. Biopsy; a small tissue of lump is taking to the laboratory for the study of the cells (histopathology).

Stages of breast

The pathology report helps to know the stage of breast cancer using the TNM ( primary tumor, lymph nodes and metastasis/spread).

Treatment

All hope is not lost for anyone diagnosed with breast cancer. The key thing is early reporting leads to early detection which also leads to early treatment, increasing the survival rate. Breast cancer treatment depends stage of the disease, the pathology (study of disease) reports, menopausal status, overall health of the patient, and the decision of the patient. One secret about breast cancer treatment is acceptance ( that is accepting that you have the disease, and now cooperating with the treatment strictly).

Breast cancer treatment needs a multidisciplinary team approach to achieve good results. The multidisciplinary team include the surgeon (surgical treatment), oncologist (radiotherapy and chemotherapy), breast care nurse (Patient’s advocate), and psychologist (psychological support).

Additionally, everyone is unique in his or her own way, so please friends, colleagues and family, do not stigmatize people with breast cancer, they need your support, accept them the way they are, put yourself in their shoes. It may happen to anyone, a survivor message to you is that breast cancer does not know your status. Medical as well as family support leads to high survival rate (A survivor message).

Prevention of breast cancer.

1. Exclusive breastfeeding can prevent the risk of getting breast but not sucking of the breast by your partner. Breastfeeding helps to delay the production of female hormones like estrogen which will promote the growth of the breast cancer cells . Sucking of the breast by your partner can only help to detect early if there’s a lump as the partner plays with the breast.

2. Self-aware of our body is very key (A survivor message): monthly self- breast examination or professional breast examination, all the signs and symptoms discussed above like unusual change of size of the breast, discoloration of the breast and others.

Self-Breast examination. Video credit: unknown source.

3. Healthy lifestyle like good diet; low intake of fatty diet, eat more fruits and vegetables ( this produces antitoxins to kill and remove the carcinogens (cancer cells) from the body system), regular exercise, avoid alcohol intake, avoid smoking and others.

Misconceptions about breast cancer.

Please note that breast cancer is never contagious (that’s communicable), never a curse, and does not always start with painful symptoms. Breast cancer is also never a “death sentence “. Most people also think breast cancer only affects women( old) but can affect men also, and as young females as seventeen (17) years.

Others think that once one breast is cut off, you will die which is untrue. Some even say when a child belches into your breast during breastfeeding, you will get breast cancer which is also not true. Some associate the cause of the disease with family planning which is false. Others think only those with a positive family history are at risk but everyone is at risk so must be self-aware of our breast. Thank you so much for reading. Let us all be breast cancer aware, and be informed everyday, every month, every year, and not only pink month (October)!

Be breast cancer aware! Be informed! Be responsible!

I acknowledged Breast cancer clinic, Surgical department, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra-Ghana for the Breast Cancer Information Day. I also acknowledged my colleagues at the graduate school, Ghana Institute of Journalism for the pictures.

THE ESSENCE OF PERSONAL HEALTH AWARENESS IN TODAY’S SOCIETY.

PhotoCredit: Artur Szczybylo (123rf.com).

Did you know that health is wealth? The secret of happiness is arguably good health! It is common in recent times, seeing some people looking for wealth but paying less attention to healthy lifestyle. Sometimes, wealth cannot buy health but with good lifestyle practices, you are much safer, and one gets to know good health practices by acquiring information from health professionals as well as credible health online site. Today, let discuss the essence of being aware of our personal health in today’s society. I am Kwasi Omaro Mohammed Musah, a health care provider at Korle-Bu Teaching, and a graduate communicator from Ghana Institute of Journalism as well as a candidate (MA in Development Communication) in the same school.

PhotoCredit: Mercy University Hospital (mug.ie).

According to the WHO, ‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental, social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. It is important to know about our health as well as being responsible for it due to the following reasons; 1.Higher likelihood of life longitivtiy. 2. Prevention of avoidable deaths through early detection of some disease. 3. Religious requirements ( Holy Bible and Holy Quran).

Health is life!

Dr. Charles Mayo (1990) explained that when we eat nutritious diet, we build good immune system, this protects us against disease. Below is his (Dr. Charles Mayo) quote.

We’re all afraid of germs…….. but what we should be afraid of is lowered resistance which comes from within……… Normal resistance to disease is directional dependent upon adequate food. It never comes of pill boxes….. Adequate food is the cradle of normal resistance, the playground of normal immunity, the workshop of good health and the laboratory of long life

Dr. Charles Mayo (1990)

Ourworldindata.org in 2016 pointed out that most causes of death in the world is Non Communicable Disease (NCD) accounting 70% deaths (WHO, 2016). NCD such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease and others are mostly lifestyle related diseases. It is therefore necessary to search for basic principles of lifestyle in order to achieve good health to live longer as the Creator has given us. Lifestyle practices are about diet, activities of daily living etc. My respected readers, Tom Damour (2002) once whispered that we can protect our health to live longer by changing the way we think about food, this is one secret about good health!

Why do people get sick? Sickness is not a natural state of being. Learn how to protect your health by changing the way you think about food

Tom Damour (2002)


PhotoCredit: Legacy Foundation Hartford (www.legacyfoundationhartford.org)

In addition, knowing about our health helps us to be health-conscious such that avoidable deaths are prevented. If you are concerned about your health, and valued it more than wealth, you cultivate the habit of regular medical check-ups at least every three to six months within the year. This will help early detection of a recessive disease, and as the adage goes; “early detection saves life”. This comes into play because early detection leads to early treatment, and this can save our life. My learned readers, it is also very important to report early at the hospital if we observe unusual signs and symptoms in our everyday health because early detection leads to early treatment which will save our life.

PhotoCredit: Albert Afeso Akanbi (WordPress.com)

Last but not least respected readers, it is a religious requirement especially from the Christianity and Islamic perspectives to be responsible for our health. From the Holy Bible, Romans 14:17 which says “the Kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit while it is very important to make sure we nourish our bodies, the temple of the Holy Spirit, it is critical that Christians keep their focus on the spiritual” then Deuteronomy 30:19 says “ I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live”.

Colleagues and Senior colleagues, when you also look at 1Corinthians 6:20 which reads that “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s”. It is our responsibility to live a righteous life to fulfil what the Holy Bible says.

The Holy Quran in Chapter 2:168 says that “eat of what’s lawful and wholesome on earth”, then when you read same chapter down to 172, it reads that “eat the good things which we have provided for you”. Another interesting verse in the Holy Quran is Quran 2:195 which says “and make not your own hands contribute to your own destruction (harm)”. My dear readers, a word to the wise is enough! Kindly expect my next article titled “ Did God create Sickness?”

I acknowledged the following people for their massive contributions on this article; Mr. Hayford Loiuse ( Public Relations Expert), Mr. Mahmoud Issahaku (Nursing Officer at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital), and Mr. Segtub Martins ( Lecturer at Ghana Institute of Journalism). Thank you.

THE GENESIS OF COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION (CSE); THE MAN BEHIND THIS!

BRIEF HISTORY.

Dr. Alfred Charles Kinsey

Dr. Alfred Charles Kinsey was an American biologist, professor of entomology and zoology, and sexologist. He arrived at Indiana University (IU) in 1920 after his PhD in Biology from Harvard University. Kinsey studied individual variation for 20years (www.kinseyinstitute.org).

An association of women students petitioned IU to offer a course on Marriage for students who were married or contemplating marriage, and this was well welcomed. Dr. Alfred Charles Kinsey was given the course ‘Marriage and Family’ to senior and married IU students, of which he (Kinsey) began teaching in 1938. Kinsey realized that there was a little research done on human sexual behaviors so he started extensive research in that area (www.familywatch.org, http://www.kinseyinstitute.org).

Kinsey had gathered nearly 2000 sex histories and earned a $1.600 grant from the National Research Council’s Committee for Research on the problems of sex. This committee funded the Kinsey team with a $40,000 grant by 1947. The sexologist Alfred Kinsey established the Institute for Sex Research (ISR) at IU now known as the Kinsey Institute For Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction in 1947 (www.kinseyinstitute.org).

In January 1948, W.B. Sunders and company published the first volume of the results of the ISR; Sexual Behavior in the Human Male which quickly reached number two on the New York Times Bestseller’s list, followed by Sexual Behavior in the Human Female in 1953. These books became known in the media as the Kinsey Reports. Both books featured the Heterosexual-Homosexual rating scale known as The Kinsey Scale. Kinsey died at the age of 62 (25th August, 1956) (www.kinseyinstitute.org, http://www.familywatch.com).

CONCEPT OF CSE.

The whole idea of CSE is Sexual freedom. The research findings of Kinsey was that children are Sexual from birth and that promiscuous sexual behaviors of all kinds are prevalent in society among all ages and therefore are normal and healthy, hence the foundation and rationale behind today’s ‘comprehensive sexuality education programs that teach children of all ages that they have right to sexual knowledge and sexual pleasure’ (www.comprehensivesexualityeducation.org).

Most scholars like Dr. Judith Reisman (author of sexual sabotage) and Dr. Miriam Grossman (author of you’re teaching my child what?) critiqued that Kinsey’s work was pseudo-scientific and fraudulent because he (Kinsey) used incarcerated criminals, prostitutes and pedophiles rather than normal, healthy members of the society. Further critique was that he (Kinsey) applied his findings to the general population (www.comprehensivesexualityeducation.org).

Another critique was that Kinsey identified three kinds of sexual abnormalities; Abstinence, celibacy and delayed marriage which ironically promote legitimate sexual health. The Kinsey Institute promotes anal sex with condoms as safe despite scientific evidence to the contrary (www.familywatch.org).

Modernization theory in action!

The Kinsey Institute facilitated the formation of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) which has been tied to Planned Parenthood ( now Internatnal Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) which has partnered with UNESCO to push the agenda of sexuality education for children worldwide, by doing bringing out the International Guidelines on Sexuality Education (www.familywatch.org).

These institutions are using funds and in the name of sexual rights to push LBGTQ (Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender, Queer) agenda, claiming that sexual rights is a fundamental human rights, and also quality education (SDG 4 )but untrue. The strategy these institutions are using now is that CSE is a good idea from developed countries, hence other countries should infuse them into their culture based on what conforms to their culture but the name Comprehensive Sexuality Education is an LGBTQ agenda from the history discussed above.

No wonder Niyi Ojuolape, a country representative for the U.N. Population Fund in Ghana accessed from (www.ghanaweb.com) said “At the end of the day, Ghana cannot be left behind from the rest of the world “. This confirmed that it is a global agenda but together we can resist this.

Let flashback again on the history: Kinsey Institute were the first ever to publish that 10% of US population are homosexuals but actually, it was approximately 2%, and this gave the foundation for homosexual activist movement in the USA ( http://www.familywatch.org).

In conclusion, sex education is never comprehensive sexuality education. Sex education focuses on human reproductive system, and helps youth understand the changes their bodies experience during puberty, and how to prevent sexually transmitted disease (www.comprehensivesexualityeducation.org) but CSE is a curriculum-based gender-focused that aims to equip children and young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that will enable them to develop a positive view of their sexuality in the context of their emotional and social development (UNFPA, 2014). It is not surprising that the president of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Paul Yaw Frimpong-Manso on Joy fm Super morning show said “I call it Comprehensive Santanic Engagement “.