October is marked as Breast Cancer Awareness Month globally to help increase attention and support for awareness, early diagnoses, and treatment as well as palliative care for women with breast cancer. In this regard, Mawuli Photography has partnered with Breast Care International to educate and encourage women on the need to screen their breasts routinely in order to detect the disease at a treatable stage before it becomes deadly. A report by the National Cancer Steering Committee indicated that, an analysis of autopsy records over a 10-year period in the Department of Pathology, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), showed that the leading cancer deaths in females is breast cancer, followed by cervix, hematopoietic organs, liver, stomach and colorectal cancer. Breast cancer is when the body cells in the breast grows out of control. This can kill the woman when they spread out of the breast to the brain, lungs, liver or bones. And even though risk factors like excessive alcohol intake, smoking, genetic mutation and family history increases a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer, the number one risk factor is being a woman. Customer Excellence Manager for Mawuli Photography, Delali Ayikoe stated that “The statistics on breast cancer in Ghana are very alarming (2,055 deaths in 2020) and we felt that we needed to do more to help our clients and women in general stay safe and protect themselves from this deadly disease. Partnering with BCI Ghana to shoot this educative video is one of the many steps we plan to take to ensure the general wellbeing of our mothers, sisters and daughters.” In a video shot at Mawuli Photography’s Spintex Photo studio, Dr Abena Addai, resident surgeon for Peace and Love Hospitals and a PhD candidate in breast oncology highlighted three ways to increase the chances of an early detection. 1. Know your breasts and how they feel: Start your monthly breast self-examination by looking at your breasts in a mirror, then carefully massage your breasts and armpits and gently squeeze your nipple for any discharge. When done regularly, women will be able to easily find any change in the size, shape or color of their breasts or nipple. There are no lumps in a normal breast. 2. Know your family history: 10 out of 100 breast cancer patients have a positive family history of the disease. If any member of your family has a history with breast cancer, it’s advisable to start your mammograms at 35 as your risk of developing the disease is a little higher. 3. Develop a good screening routine: Every month after your period it’s necessary to do your own breast self-examination. A trained health personnel should do a clinical breast screening for you at least once every year. The older you get, the higher your chances of getting breast cancer. So, if you are above 40, it is recommended to start your yearly mammogram. With early diagnosis, women have a higher chance of surviving breast cancer. Pay close attention to your breasts and consult a health center if you notice any inconsistencies. Breast Care International is offering free clinical breast screening at the Peace and Love Hospitals in Accra and Kumasi from now till the end of October, 2021. About Mawuli Photography Mawuli Photography is a Photography brand dedicated to providing the most affordably photography services to individuals and families based in Ghana. Mawuli Photography’s flagship photo studio is located on the Spintex road and is open every day for birthday, baby, maternity, couple and family photoshoots. They are also a major producer of frames and canvas prints in Ghana. For more information, visit instagram.com/mawuli.photography or facebook.com/mawuli.photography About Breast Care International Breast Care International (BCI) is a Kumasi based non-governmental organization (NGO) that has provided over 1,110 outreach programs and about 141,729 free clinical breast screenings to women in Ghana. BCI has over the past 19 years been conducting outreach programs for women, especially those in deprived communities of Ghana: educating, and screening the public for breast cancer – a killer disease that has a matchless attitude to destroy the lives of women in their prime. BCI’s work empowers women to respond to this disease with hope rather than fear, education rather than misinformation, and treatment rather than denial. For more information, visit breastcareinternational.org