Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addae, President of Breast Care International, has stated that smoking “shisha” and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol have been discovered as major causes of breast cancer among the nation’s young people.
She is also concerned about the rapid rise in breast cancer cases among young people in Africa, particularly in Ghana.
Hubble-bubble smoking, sometimes known as shisha smoking, is the practice of smoking tobacco through a bowl that has a tube or hose attached to it. The smoker inhales smoke through a mouthpiece on the tube.
Although it is native to parts of Asia and the Middle East, it has lately gained popularity in Ghana, particularly among youth.
The chief executive of Peace and Love Hospital, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addae, has advised young people not to engage in it in order to prevent breast cancer and other health issues.
The information was disclosed over the weekend at Effiduase in the New Juaben North Municipality by Dr. Wiafe Addae. Hundreds of journalists and members of the public participated in a health and breast screening event organized by the Ghana Journalists Association’s Eastern Regional branch.
What’s in Shisha?
Shisha usually contains tobacco which is sometimes mixed with fruit or molasses sugar. Popular flavours include apple, strawberry, mint and cola. Wood, coal or charcoal is burned in the shisha pipe to heat the tobacco and create the smoke.
What are the risks?
Shisha often contains the same type of tobacco as you get in cigarettes. This means shisha smokers are at risk of developing the same health problems as cigarette smokers, such as cancer and heart disease.
Because Shisha can contain nicotine (the addictive ingredient in cigarettes) you can become addicted to smoking shisha.
A World Health Organisation study has suggested that a one hour session of smoking shisha can be the same as smoking 100 or more cigarettes.
According to her, most creams used by women to tone their bodies, have also been identified to contain dangerous chemicals that cause breast cancer can also cause damages some human organs.
Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addae also refuted claims that sucking of breasts is a panacea to preventing or cause of breast cancer.
“That notion is a myth and doesn’t have any proof,” she stated.
According to her, no research has yet proven that breast cancer can be caused or prevented by regular sucking of the breast or playing with it.
Men are also at risk due to their lifestyle, she added.
The Eastern Regional Chairman of the GJA, Maxwell Kudekor, averred that the health screening was the Association’s Corporate Social Responsibility to the society.
He said it should not always be the case that journalists would take or receive from society but have to also give back.
Maxwell Kudekor called on his fellow journalists to take their health seriously and regularly go for checkups since they are important to the society.
