Dr. Joel Yarney, Consultant (Radiotherapy and Oncology) and Director of the National Centre for Radiotherapy Oncology & Nuclear Medicine at Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, has urged healthcare providers to encourage breast cancer patients to have open conversations about their illnesses in order for them to participate in their own treatment.
According to Dr. Yarnney, taking an active role in their treatment can help breast cancer patients feel empowered in making the best decisions for themselves.
He said although many strides had been made in breast cancer treatment through scientific innovation, it was crucial for patients to have the right information and expectations.
“The transformative impact of science on breast cancer is evident within the breast cancer community. While we’ve made a meaningful change for those living with this disease, our work is far from finished,” Dr Yarney said during Pfizer’s virtual Media Roundtable to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“It is crucial for patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or even metastatic breast cancer to have the right information and expectations. It is our duty to encourage patients to have open conversations with their healthcare teams to understand how they can be supported and how they can participate in their own caretaking an active role in their treatment can help them feel empowered in making the best decisions for themselves.”
Also speaking at the Media Roundtable which was held virtually for all the participants, the Medical Director East & Anglo West Africa, Kodjo Soroh spoke about Pfizer’s commitment to delivering life-changing scientific breakthroughs in the field of oncology.
He said “Oncology remains a key therapeutic field for Pfizer in which we are working to deliver medical breakthroughs that have the potential to change patients’ lives across the region significantly and we are proud of these achievements, and we thank our media members, colleagues, HCPs and everyone for this event.”
For his part, the Consultant Clinical and Radiation Oncologist, NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adewumi Alabi, lauded the organisers of the Roundtable for creating a forum for sharing the best insights and findings that can support patients in winning the battle against cancer.
“The importance of clinical research in breast cancer care cannot be overemphasized.” These forums are critical as they allow us to share our best insights and findings that can support patients in winning the battle against cancer. “Breast cancer itself is one of the deadliest diseases with a high prevalence in the area,” he said.
