For many Ghanaian women, surviving breast cancer is not only a battle for life but also a battle against poverty. The cost of treatment remains so high that families are often forced to sell assets, take loans, or abandon treatment midway due to financial exhaustion.
According to recent research by the University of Ghana and other health partners, the average cost of treating breast cancer in Ghana ranges between GH¢29,000 and GH¢55,000 a year, depending on whether care is received in public or private facilities. That translates to between US$5,000 and US$9,700, a staggering amount for households earning less than GH¢5,000 a month.
The study, which examined patients at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre, found that medical expenses including surgery, chemotherapy, and imaging accounted for about 62% of total costs, while transportation, special diets, and lost income made up the remaining 38%.
Families under strain
For many low- and middle-income households, the economic impact is devastating.
“I had to stop my small trading business to accompany my sister for chemotherapy in Accra,” said Eunice Mensah, a caregiver whose family has spent over GH¢40,000 in the past year. “We’ve sold our land and used all our savings. It feels like survival is a privilege, not a right.”
A related study published in 2024 revealed that 57% of breast cancer patients in Ghana live in households earning less than US$370 per month, meaning treatment consumes several years of income. Many are forced to rely on loans, family support, or community contributions.
Insurance limitations deepen the crisis
While Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) covers some diagnostic services, most breast cancer drugs, advanced imaging, and radiotherapy remain out-of-pocket expenses. This leaves patients vulnerable to what experts call catastrophic health expenditure, which occurs when healthcare costs exceed 40% of a household’s income.
Dr. Nana Ama Asante, an oncologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, described the financial challenge as one of the biggest barriers to early detection and successful treatment.
“Many women delay coming to the hospital because they fear the cost,” she said. “By the time they arrive, the disease has advanced, which makes treatment more expensive and survival chances lower.”
Beyond hospital bills, families also face indirect costs such as transport, accommodation, and income loss. Many patients travel long distances to urban cancer centres for weekly chemotherapy or radiation sessions, forcing caregivers to abandon work temporarily.
“These hidden costs make treatment even harder,” said Dr. Asante. “A woman from Tamale who travels to Accra every two weeks for chemotherapy can spend over GH¢1,000 just on transport and lodging per visit.”
Health economists warn that without intervention, breast cancer could become an engine of poverty for many Ghanaian families. Some patients abandon treatment midway, increasing the likelihood of relapse and higher long-term medical costs.
Professor Josephine Nsaful, a public health researcher at the University of Ghana, said the economic impact extends far beyond the patient.
“When a mother or breadwinner is diagnosed, the entire family suffers. Income falls, children may drop out of school, and savings are depleted. Breast cancer has become not just a medical crisis but a socio-economic one,” she explained.
Calls for policy reforms
Experts are calling on the government to expand the NHIS to include comprehensive cancer care and to provide subsidies for diagnostics and drugs. They also recommend decentralising oncology services to regional hospitals to reduce travel costs for rural patients.
“Early detection and subsidised care will save lives and money,” said Prof. Nsaful. “The cost of inaction will be much higher for families and the economy.”
For many survivors, recovery brings both gratitude and financial anxiety. “I’m cancer-free now, but the debt remains,” said Grace Ofori, a 42-year-old trader who has survived the disease. “I had to borrow from friends and sell my shop to finish treatment. Every month, I’m reminded that healing has a price.”
As Ghana observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month, advocates say that public education must go hand in hand with financial support systems. Without both, the fight against breast cancer will continue to drain the hopes and incomes of countless Ghanaian families.
