Cancer Education That Supports Earlier Detection
Explore practical guidance on cancer warning signs and screening, alongside education and training opportunities for healthcare professionals and students.
Know the Warning Signs
Understand Screening
Advance Clinical Skills
Connected to Ghana’s Leading Health Education Institutions
Breast Cancer Can Affect Anyone
Breast cancer affects women of all ages and can also occur in men. A lump in the breast or armpit, changes in breast shape or skin colour, or bloody nipple discharge should be assessed by a healthcare professional. Not every breast lump is cancer, and breast cancer can develop without a family history.
Make Early Detection a Habit
Examine your breasts each month so you can recognise changes and seek medical advice promptly. Women over 40 should have a mammogram at least every two years to help detect breast cancer early. If you notice an unusual change, do not wait for your next screening appointment.
Understanding Prostate Cancer
Who Is at Risk?
Prostate cancer affects the prostate gland in men. Risk increases with age, and a family history of prostate cancer may raise the likelihood of developing it.
Possible Warning Signs
Prostate cancer may cause no symptoms. Some men experience difficulty urinating or need to urinate more often, especially at night. These changes can also have non-cancerous causes.
PSA Testing
A PSA blood test can help identify changes that need further assessment. A healthcare professional can explain the results and whether additional tests are appropriate.
Head and Neck Cancers: What to Know
- Lips, gums and cheeks
- Tongue and palate
- Tonsils and throat
- Salivary glands
- Sinuses and nose
- Voice box
- Smoking or other tobacco use
- Alcohol consumption
- Combined tobacco and alcohol exposure
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
- Persistent exposure to tobacco smoke
- Discussing personal risks with a clinician
- A mouth sore that has not healed within three weeks
- Pain or difficulty when chewing or swallowing
- An unexplained loose tooth
- A lump or swelling in the mouth or neck
- A persistently blocked or bleeding nose
- White or red patches in the mouth or on the tongue
Gynaecologic Cancers: Know When to Seek Care
Cervical cancer is the most common gynaecologic cancer in Ghana. Cancers of the uterus and ovaries also affect women. Knowing what is normal for your body can help you recognise changes that deserve medical attention.
Speak with a healthcare professional about abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, bleeding after sex or menopause, persistent lower abdominal pain, or feeling full sooner than usual. These symptoms can have other causes, but they should be assessed.
Cervical screening can find changes before cancer develops or help detect cancer earlier. Ask a healthcare professional when to begin screening and how often to return, based on your circumstances and local guidance.
Do not wait for a screening appointment if you have concerning symptoms. Seeking care promptly can help establish the cause and, when needed, allow treatment to begin sooner.
Understanding Gastrointestinal Cancers
Gastrointestinal cancers develop in the digestive tract, including the stomach, intestines and anus. Smoking, alcohol use, a family history of cancer and eating large amounts of processed red meat may increase risk. Warning signs include persistent abdominal pain, blood in the stool, ongoing diarrhoea or constipation, unexplained abdominal swelling, and pain or difficulty when swallowing. If symptoms persist despite treatment for conditions such as peptic ulcers or piles, seek another medical opinion. Through patient education and professional training, the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre supports its mission of improving cancer awareness, early detection and care.
Take the Next Step Towards Answers
Concerned about symptoms, screening or cancer risk? Speak with a qualified healthcare professional rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen. You can also contact the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre to ask about cancer education and training opportunities.