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.
