Our Story

How the Blood Cancer Foundation Ghana began — and the mission that drives us forward.

Our Journey: Starting the Blood Cancer Foundation Ghana (BCFG)

Our story began with a shared sense of urgency, compassion, and a deep desire to make a difference in our communities. In Ghana, conversations about blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma were rare. Public attention was largely focused on infectious diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, while blood cancers remained a silent threat, quietly claiming lives across the country.

It was during Dr Emmanuel Kissiedu Antiri’s Master of Science studies in Advanced Oncology at Ulm University in Germany (2023) that he met and shared a heartfelt conversation with Mr Sebastian Perbandt, a close friend from Germany who shared his passion for making an impact. They spoke deeply about the challenges faced by blood cancer patients in Ghana, including the delayed diagnoses, the unaffordable treatment costs, and the emotional and financial struggles families endure.

Out of that honest exchange, a dream was born; a dream to bring hope, awareness, and support to those affected by blood cancers in Ghana. Together, they founded the Blood Cancer Foundation Ghana (BCFG), built on empathy, community, and the conviction that no one should face blood cancer alone. This foundation stands to change the narrative, give blood cancers a voice in Ghana, and offer strength, education, and compassion to every patient and family walking this difficult journey.

“No one should face blood cancer alone.”

The Turning Point: Personal Stories and Realisation

In 2024, patient N.A., a young man in his 30s from Cape Coast, was diagnosed with acute
myeloid leukaemia. He had been feeling unusually fatigued, experiencing unexplained
bleeding episodes and suffering from persistent infections. He admitted to night sweats,
fever, weight loss, and bone pain and initially resorted to herbal medications with no
response. He had been managed at several peripheral facilities, including transfusions of red
blood cells and platelet concentrate over two weeks without any adequate diagnosis.
Luckily for him, his wife was a nurse and suggested a visit to a haematologist at the
Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. When we first saw him, he looked acutely ill, so we admitted
him, gave him supportive therapy, performed a bone marrow aspiration, and reported it
within 24 hours (diagnosis of AML). We asked for further investigations, like flow cytometry
and molecular genetic testing, but they were financially drained and could not afford any
further. When the diagnosis came, it was a shock, not just for N.A., but for his family and
friends. They struggled to understand the diagnosis, the causes, the natural history, and the
treatment options. The medical team had to explain how leukaemia affects the bone marrow
and blood cells, but resources for treatment were limited. Chemotherapy and supportive
therapy was expensive, and the treatment options available in Ghana were limited.

Fast forward: he received 2 cycles of the modified 3+7 regimen (he had IV cytarabine 40 mg
daily for 5 days) on account of symptomatic cytopenias, a lack of adequate supportive
therapy and financial difficulties. Subsequently, we managed him palliatively on
Hydroxyurea till he passed away just weeks after his diagnosis.

This is the story of many Ghanaian leukaemia patients who don’t achieve remission with the
modified treatments given. The questions we have asked ourselves over the past years are:
When are the newly diagnosed patients going to receive a comprehensive workout for their
diagnosis, when are they going to start receiving newer regimens that are currently being
used in advanced countries, and when are they going to have hopes of ever achieving a cure by
a stem cell transplant?

Many years ago, blood cancers were rare in Ghana, and most people, including health
professionals had limited knowledge of the disease. Consultant haematologists, such as Professor Ankrah Badu and Professor Bruce-Tagoe (both of blessed memory), Professor Acquaye, Professor Olayemi, Professor Ekem, Professor Dei-Adomakoh, and Dr Amma Benneh-Akwasi Kuma, over the past few years, have trained many haematologists in Ghana to improve the diagnosis and management of these patients.

The incidence is, however rising in Ghana due to increased awareness and the steadily
growing numbers of haematologists (currently inadequate) who are working hard to make
diagnoses,  and treat with the limited resources available.

N.A.’s story was not unique. We began to hear similar stories, families desperate for
information, resources, and support for blood cancer patients. Many patients faced late
diagnoses, limited access to treatment, and, tragically, avoidable deaths due to a lack of
awareness and proper care. This was the moment that changed everything for us!

Our Vision: Making a Difference

N.A.’s death, though heartbreaking, sparked a deep determination in a small group of us to
do something about it. We were driven by one simple belief: No one should face blood
cancer alone.

A world where blood cancer is no longer a silent killer. We envision a future where every
individual affected by blood cancer in Ghana has access to the best possible care, the
resources they need to fight, and a strong community of support around them. We are
dedicated to the ongoing effort to cure blood cancer and improve the lives of those impacted
by it. By living this mission, we aim to profoundly impact the lives of individuals
with blood cancer, ultimately transforming Ghana into a model for improved cancer care and
patient support in Africa.

Our Mission

The Blood Cancer Foundation Ghana is committed to transforming the lives of individuals and families affected by blood cancers by providing support, raising awareness, and funding research initiatives aimed at improving outcomes in Ghana and West Africa.

Our mission is to ensure that no one faces blood cancer alone. We strive to improve access to
care, educate communities, advocate for better healthcare policies, and promote early
detection. By working with healthcare providers, researchers, and the wider public, we aim to
build a sustainable future where blood cancers are better understood, more effectively treated,
and eventually cured.

Key Components of Our Mission

  • Raising Awareness and Education: To increase public understanding of blood cancers, their signs, symptoms, and the importance
of early diagnosis through nationwide awareness campaigns, educational workshops, and
community outreach programs. To reduce the stigma associated with cancer and encourage regular health checks and early
intervention.
  • Patient Support and Empowerment: To provide comprehensive support services, including financial assistance, counselling, and
information, to blood cancer patients and their families. To create a community of support through patient networks and survivor groups that foster
shared experiences, offer emotional support, and provide practical guidance through the
cancer journey.
  • Improving Access to Treatment: To collaborate with hospitals, clinics, and healthcare professionals to enhance the quality of
care and resources available for blood cancer patients in Ghana, especially in underserved
regions. To work with stakeholders to ensure that patients have access to modern and effective
treatments, including chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and stem cell transplants.
  • Advocacy and Policy Development: To advocate for better healthcare policies, funding, and infrastructure for cancer care at the national and regional levels. To ensure that blood cancers receive the attention they deserve within Ghana’s healthcare
system, pushing for government action on prevention, treatment, and research.
  • Research and Innovation: To support and fund local and international research initiatives focused on improving the
diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of blood cancers in the African context. To encourage the training of healthcare professionals and researchers to build a robust,
a sustainable network of expertise in blood cancer care in Ghana.
  • Building Partnerships: To form strategic partnerships with local, regional, and international organisations, research
institutions and pharmaceutical companies to enhance resources, knowledge, and treatment
options available to patients in Ghana.

What We Recommend for Every Ghanaian

  • Twice yearly full blood count.
  • Encouraged to follow up with a peripheral blood film comment if recommended.
  • Review with the haematologist at least once a year, with the investigations
recommended.
  • Involvement in the yearly awareness walk to be held throughout Ghana.

Our Hopes and Dreams

To establish a comprehensive cancer centre which will serve as an institution
for the complete diagnosis of blood cancer patients, offer ideal treatment options
including a stem cell transplant for every blood cancer patient across the
country at an affordable price.