Education
Education plays a fundamental role in our core mission. The National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine centre provides education opportunities to several groups and individuals, including physicians and other health care professionals, international visiting scholars, graduate and undergraduate students. Training offered include membership and fellowship programs in radiation and medical oncology, oncology nursing, radiation therapy, medical physics, research education and training, continuous professional development (CPD), short and long term clinical rotations. The centre is affiliated to the University of Ghana, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, Ghana College of Pharmacy and School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences.
BREAST CANCER
➢ Breast cancer is the commonest cancer seen women.
➢ Both young and old women can have breast cancer.
➢ Men can also have breast cancer.
➢ Symptoms include
- Lump or mass in the breast or armpit
- Changes in the skin colour of the breast
- Changes in the shape of the breast
- Bloody nipple discharge
➢ Not all lumps in the breast are cancerous.
➢ Not all breast cancer patients have a positive family history of cancers.
➢ Monthly self-breast examination is keys to early detection.
➢ Women above 40yrs should have a mammogram done at least every 2 years to detect the disease at an early stage.
PROSTATE CANCER
➢ Only men have the prostate gland
➢ The prostate gland can grow big without being cancerous
➢ Prostate cancer is the commonest male cancer
➢ It may present with no symptoms
➢ Sometimes patients can have difficulty urinating and frequent urination especially at night
➢ For a few people the disease maybe found when very advanced and has gone into the bone
➢ Old age and family history are risk factors
➢ The PSA test can be done to find out if you have prostate cancer.
HEAD AND NECK CANCERS
➢ Head and neck cancer is a term used for cancers that can affect your lips, gums, cheeks, tongue, palate, tonsil, throat, salivary glands, sinuses, nose and voice.
➢ Head and Neck cancers risk factors includes;
➢ Smoking
➢ Viral infection Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection
➢ Alcohol: If you smoke and drink alcohol, the risk could be up to 200 times higher.
➢ See your doctor if you have
➢ A sore in your mouth that does not heal within three weeks
➢ Difficulty or pain when chewing or swallowing
➢ Unexplained loose tooth
➢ A swelling or lump in the mouth or neck
➢ Blocked or bleeding nose
➢ Persistent white or red patches in the mouth lining or on the tongue.
GYAENECOLOGICL CANCERs
➢ Cervical cancer is the commonest gynecologic cancer in Ghana
➢ Other common gynecologic cancers are that of the uterus and ovaries
➢ Talk to a healthcare professional if you experience any of the following;
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse
- Vaginal bleeding after menopause
- Persistent lower abdominal pain
- Early satiety
➢ Every sexually active female should undergo cervical cancer screening
➢ Early detection is key
GASTROINTESTINAL CANCERS
➢ These are cancers that develop in the food tract within the abdomen e.g. stomach, intestines and anus.
➢ Some risk factors are
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Family history
- Eating too much processed red meats
➢ See a doctor if
- You have abdominal pain for a long time.
- You see blood in your stool.
- The way you move your bowels changes. (diarrhea or constipation)
- Your abdomen alone gets big when you are not gaining weight.
- You have pain or difficulty when swallowing.
➢ You can always see another doctor if you have been treated for peptic ulcer or piles for a long time and without improvement.