Breast Cancer: Why Early Detection Matters and Why We Created “Market of Hope”

contactavikawhite
Sep 5
3 min read

BY: National Cancer Institute — BY: **National Cancer Institute**

On any given day, a woman in Ghana walks into a hospital only after her breast cancer has reached an advanced stage. By then, treatment is harder, survival is uncertain, and families are left grappling with fear and loss. This story is repeated across towns, villages, and even bustling cities. It is not because women do not care about their health, but because access to screening is limited, information is scarce, and stigma still lingers.

Globally, the numbers tell a sobering story. In 2022, there were 2.3 million new breast cancer cases and 670,000 deaths worldwide, making it the most common cancer among women in more than 150 countries (WHO). Projections for 2050 are even more alarming: cases are expected to rise by 38%, while deaths could increase by 68%, with the steepest burden in low- and middle-income countries (Nature Medicine; The Lancet Oncology).

Yet, the science also gives us hope. Decades of research prove that early detection saves lives. Since mammography screening became widespread in the 1980s, mortality has dropped by over 30% in the United States, and countries like Denmark and Sweden have seen deaths nearly halved (Cancer.gov; Wikipedia: Mammography). A recent study confirmed that women whose cancers were detected through screening had far better outcomes than those diagnosed after symptoms appeared (RSNA).

But while wealthy nations are saving lives, women in Ghana often face a different reality. Studies show that up to 70% of Ghanaian women present with late-stage breast cancer (Wikipedia: Cancer in Ghana). At this stage, treatment is more aggressive, outcomes are poorer, and the cost—financial, emotional, and social—is devastating.

This is why Avika White created the Market of Hope. We knew we had to bring solutions closer to the people. Markets are the heartbeat of Ghanaian communities: they are where women gather, trade, and nurture their families. By making the market a place not just for food and goods but also for free breast cancer screening and awareness, we are turning ordinary spaces into life-saving ones.

Market of Hope is our annual commitment to breaking barriers. It is about:

Access: bringing screening to women where they already are.
Awareness: empowering communities with knowledge and reducing stigma.
Equity: ensuring that a woman’s chance of survival is not determined by her income or location.

This work echoes the WHO’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative, which aims to reduce mortality by 2.5% annually between 2020 and 2040 (WHO/IARC). If achieved, millions of lives could be saved worldwide.

At Avika White, we believe that Ghana must be part of that story of survival. With each screening, each woman reached, and each conversation started, Market of Hope is helping to write a different ending — one of early detection, timely care, and restored hope.

Alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Market of Hope initiative directly supports several SDGs:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being — by promoting early detection, prevention, and access to essential healthcare services.
SDG 5: Gender Equality — by empowering women to take charge of their health and reducing disparities in access to care.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities — by targeting underserved communities and bridging healthcare access gaps.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals — by fostering collaboration with hospitals, markets, volunteers, and global health institutions.