Financial barriers, caregiving responsibilities delaying breast cancer care among women

Financial difficulties, caregiving responsibilities and inadequate social support could delay women from seeking timely breast cancer care, a gender expert has cautioned.

Ms. Maribel Akuorkor Okine, Gender Director, Department of Gender, Western Region, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the challenges were particularly significant for women in the informal sector, who might struggle with the cost of transportation, diagnosis and treatment while caring for their families.

She said breast cancer awareness efforts should therefore go beyond screening to address the social and economic circumstances that influenced women’s access to healthcare.

Ms Okine said some women could postpone seeking care because of concerns about treatment costs, loss of income, childcare responsibilities and becoming financially dependent on family members.

She called for stronger support from families, workplaces, communities and the health system to enable women to access screening and treatment without unnecessary delays.

Ms. Okine also urged the public to reject misconceptions that could discourage early detection and appropriate treatment.

She stressed that breast cancer was not exclusively a woman’s disease, noting that men could also develop the condition and should seek medical attention when they noticed unusual changes.

She cautioned against the misconception that a partner could conduct a breast cancer examination at home, explaining that self-examination should be performed by individuals themselves, while clinical examinations should be conducted by trained health professionals with consent.

“No man should use cancer checks as an excuse for unwanted touch. Your body, your right,” she said.

Ms. Okine also discouraged the attribution of breast cancer to spiritual causes and urged people to seek appropriate medical care when they noticed suspicious symptoms.

She called for continuous public education and increased access to screening services beyond October, saying breast cancer awareness and prevention should remain a year-round effort rather than being limited to the awareness month.

According to her, workplaces could support women by allowing them time to attend screening, while chiefs, religious leaders and community groups could help reduce stigma and encourage early treatment.

At the family level, she said practical assistance with transportation, treatment expenses, childcare and household responsibilities could ease the burden on patients and make it easier for women to seek and continue treatment.

Ms. Okine said addressing these social and economic barriers was essential to improving women’s access to breast cancer care, particularly for those whose livelihoods and family responsibilities made it difficult to prioritise their own health.

Source: GNA