The country’s first ever cancer registry in the Ashanti regional capital Kumasi has made modest gains since its inception in 2012.
The cancer registry in Kumasi has been facilitating data collection and effective management of the disease over the past four years.
Although work started on the facility in 2012, it became operational in 2014 after going through rigorous tests.
At the moment, the facility is on the threshold of becoming a research center for both academics and medical professionals to access data to influence health policies in the Kumasi metropolis.
The Kumasi cancer registry solely captures all cancer data from the Kumasi metropolis which will help calculate cancer incidents.
This means the registry will facilitate the collation of the number of new cases diagnosed in a year and prevalence of the disease in the city.
Figures from the registry reveal over 2,000 cases of cancer were recorded by medical facilities in Kumasi between 2012 and 2015.
Liver, prostrate and head cancers top infection among men while breast, cervical and ovarian cancers lead the chart in women.
2015 figures represent 49 percent increase with breast, cervical and liver cancers topping the list in both women and men.
According to the registry, 60 percent of cancer patients in the city are between the active ages of 44 and 59.
The Kumasi South Hospital, Suntreso Government Hospital, Manhyia District Hospital and KATH among others and over 6 laboratories serve as sources of cancer cases for the registry.
Early detection and management of cancers can save the lives of about 90% of patients. But, for now, at least 70 percent of cases reported at health facilities in the city of Kumasi are at the advanced stage, leading to an increase in cancer-related deaths.
However, the medical director of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr Baffour Awuah, is happy about the gains made so far.
He expressed serious concern about patients who have over the years resorted either to traditional medicines or prayer camps for treatment. They end up at the hospital with either stage 4 or 3, he said.
Meanwhile, speakers at the African Cancer Registration Network meeting in Kumasi were worried about lack of funding to fight the disease.
They called on African leaders to commit more resources and funding into the control of breast cancer.
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