Breast cancer awareness must go beyond October – Lady Ellen Gold

A relationship coach, life counsellor and panel member on Nhyira FM’s Obra show, Lady Ellen Gold White Opoku Afriyie (Mrs.), has urged women to make regular breast self-examinations a year-round practice rather than limiting breast cancer awareness and screening activities to October.

She says consistent breast awareness and timely medical screening are essential to promoting early detection and improving the chances of successful treatment.

Speaking to Adom News at the relaunch of the Exuberant Men and Women of Faith Foundation, Lady Ellen Gold stressed the need to make breast cancer education a continuous campaign to reach more women and encourage early medical attention.

She explained that although October is widely recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the fight against the disease must go beyond the annual campaign.

“This foundation, Exuberant Men and Women of Faith, has been in existence for a long time, but we have re-launched it to support the lives of men and women. This time, we want to make breast cancer awareness a daily responsibility to help reduce the impact of the disease,” she said.

The relationship coach further explained that the foundation’s activities extend beyond breast cancer awareness to include marriage counselling, personal development and capacity-building programmes aimed at helping couples build stable and successful homes.

According to her, misunderstandings and inadequate preparation for marriage contribute to instability in many relationships, making it necessary to equip both men and women with the knowledge and skills needed to sustain their marriages.

She urged women to develop the capacity to contribute meaningfully to their households rather than entering marriage with the expectation that financial and other responsibilities rest solely on their husbands.

“Most women enter marriage with the mindset that it is the man who must take care of everything, but that should not be the case. The Bible describes the woman as a helper to her husband, so women must understand how best to support their partners and contribute to the success of their homes,” she said.

Lady Ellen Gold White Opoku Afriyie observed that inadequate orientation and poor understanding between couples often contribute to marital breakdowns, some of which become public through the media.

She therefore called for stronger marriage education and counselling to help couples manage disagreements, understand their responsibilities and build peaceful family relationships.

The founder emphasised that the Exuberant Men and Women of Faith initiative is designed to empower both men and women, urging men to actively participate in its programmes to improve their personal lives, strengthen their marriages and promote family stability.

She expressed hope that the foundation’s renewed activities would promote continuous breast cancer awareness, encourage early detection, and equip couples with the knowledge needed to build healthier relationships and stronger families.