KNUST Nursing Professor Featured by American Association for Cancer Research for Pioneering Breast Cancer Screening Innovation in Ghana
Professor (Mrs.) Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah, from the Department of Nursing at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) College of Health Sciences, has been spotlighted by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for her groundbreaking work in advancing early breast cancer screening in Ghana.
Prof. Mensah, a nurse, lecturer, and oncology researcher, is a recipient of the prestigious Beginning Investigator Grant for Catalytic Research (BIG Cat), administered by AACR in collaboration with the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) and the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Global Health. The grant has enabled her to lead innovative, community-centered approaches aimed at addressing late cancer diagnoses and reducing mortality rates in Ghana.
Addressing a Growing Cancer Burden
Cancer rates in the Ashanti Region have risen sharply, with a 33% increase reported between 2023 and 2024, including a 92% surge in breast cancer cases. Prof. Mensah’s early experiences as a registered nurse exposed her to the emotional and physical toll of late-stage cancer on patients and families. This inspired her career-long focus on understanding the social, cultural, and systemic barriers to timely diagnosis and care.
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