Carcinoma is a type of cancer that orig­inates in epithelial cells, which are the cells that form the lining of organs and glands.

It is the most common type of cancer, accounting for ap­proximately 90 per cent of all cancer cases. Carcinoma can occur in various parts of the body, including the skin, lungs, breast, colon, and prostate.

Types of Carcinoma

There are several subtypes of carcinoma, each with distinct characteristics and prognoses. Some of the most common types of carcinoma include:

1. Squamous cell carcinoma: This type of carcinoma origi­nates in the squamous cells, which are the flat, thin cells that form the lining of organs and glands.

2 : This type of carcinoma originates in the glandular cells, which are the cells that form the lining of glands and organs.

3. Basal cell carcinoma: This type of carcinoma originates in the basal cells, which are the cells that form the lining of the skin and other organs.

4. Transitional cell carcino­ma: This type of carcinoma originates in the transitional cells, which are the cells that form the lining of the bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis.

Causes and risk factors

The exact causes of carcino­ma are not fully understood, but several risk factors have been identified. These in­clude:

1. Genetic mutations: Carcinoma can be caused by genetic mutations, which can be inherited or acquired.

2. Environmental factors: Exposure to environmental carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, and certain chemicals, can increase the risk of developing carcinoma.

3. Age: The risk of develop­ing carcinoma increases with age.

4. Family history: A fami­ly history of carcinoma can increase an individual’s risk of developing the disease.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The symptoms of carcinoma can vary depending on the location and type of cancer. Common symptoms include:

1. Unexplained weight loss

2. Fatigue

3. Pain

4. Changes in bowel or blad­der habits

5. Unusual bleeding or dis­charge

Carcinoma is typically diag­nosed using a combination of imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans, and biopsy, which involves remov­ing a sample of tissue for ex­amination under a microscope.

Treatment Options

The treatment options for carcinoma depend on the type, location, and stage of the cancer. Common treat­ment options include:

1. Surgery: Surgery is often used to remove the cancerous tumor and surrounding tissue.

2. Chemotherapy: Chemo­therapy involves using medica­tions to kill cancer cells.

3. Radiation therapy: Radi­ation therapy involves using high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.

4. Targeted therapy: Target­ed therapy involves using med­ications that target specific molecules involved in cancer growth and progression.

Prevention and early de­tection

Preventing carcinoma in­volves avoiding known risk fac­tors, such as tobacco smoke and environmental carcino­gens, and getting regular can­cer screenings. Early detection of carcinoma can significantly improve treatment outcomes.

Conclusion

Carcinoma is a complex and multifaceted disease that requires a comprehensive approach to diagnosis, treat­ment, and prevention. By understanding the causes, risk factors, symptoms, and treat­ment options for carcinoma, individuals can take steps to reduce their risk of developing the disease and improve their chances of successful treat­ment.

References:

1. “Carcinoma” by the American Cancer Society

2. “Carcinoma: A Review of the Literature” by the National Cancer Institute

3. “Carcinoma: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention” by the World Health Organi­zation

 Carcinoma is a type of cancer that orig­inates in epithelial cells, which are the cells that form the lining of organs and glands.

It is the most common type of cancer, accounting for ap­proximately 90 per cent of all cancer cases. Carcinoma can occur in various parts of the body, including the skin, lungs, breast, colon, and prostate.

Types of Carcinoma

There are several subtypes of carcinoma, each with distinct characteristics and prognoses. Some of the most common types of carcinoma include:

1. Squamous cell carcinoma: This type of carcinoma origi­nates in the squamous cells, which are the flat, thin cells that form the lining of organs and glands.

2 : This type of carcinoma originates in the glandular cells, which are the cells that form the lining of glands and organs.

3. Basal cell carcinoma: This type of carcinoma originates in the basal cells, which are the cells that form the lining of the skin and other organs.

4. Transitional cell carcino­ma: This type of carcinoma originates in the transitional cells, which are the cells that form the lining of the bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis.

Causes and risk factors

The exact causes of carcino­ma are not fully understood, but several risk factors have been identified. These in­clude:

1. Genetic mutations: Carcinoma can be caused by genetic mutations, which can be inherited or acquired.

2. Environmental factors: Exposure to environmental carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, and certain chemicals, can increase the risk of developing carcinoma.

3. Age: The risk of develop­ing carcinoma increases with age.

4. Family history: A fami­ly history of carcinoma can increase an individual’s risk of developing the disease.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The symptoms of carcinoma can vary depending on the location and type of cancer. Common symptoms include:

1. Unexplained weight loss

2. Fatigue

3. Pain

4. Changes in bowel or blad­der habits

5. Unusual bleeding or dis­charge

Carcinoma is typically diag­nosed using a combination of imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans, and biopsy, which involves remov­ing a sample of tissue for ex­amination under a microscope.

Treatment Options

The treatment options for carcinoma depend on the type, location, and stage of the cancer. Common treat­ment options include:

1. Surgery: Surgery is often used to remove the cancerous tumor and surrounding tissue.

2. Chemotherapy: Chemo­therapy involves using medica­tions to kill cancer cells.

3. Radiation therapy: Radi­ation therapy involves using high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.

4. Targeted therapy: Target­ed therapy involves using med­ications that target specific molecules involved in cancer growth and progression.

Prevention and early de­tection

Preventing carcinoma in­volves avoiding known risk fac­tors, such as tobacco smoke and environmental carcino­gens, and getting regular can­cer screenings. Early detection of carcinoma can significantly improve treatment outcomes.

Conclusion

Carcinoma is a complex and multifaceted disease that requires a comprehensive approach to diagnosis, treat­ment, and prevention. By understanding the causes, risk factors, symptoms, and treat­ment options for carcinoma, individuals can take steps to reduce their risk of developing the disease and improve their chances of successful treat­ment.

References:

1. “Carcinoma” by the American Cancer Society

2. “Carcinoma: A Review of the Literature” by the National Cancer Institute

3. “Carcinoma: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention” by the World Health Organi­zation

By Rober Ekow Grimmond-Thompson

I continue with my narra­tion of personalities and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland, with a focus on Mrs Adjoa Brewu.

Mrs Brewu won in the Municipal elections in Fin­land four years ago. She is the daughter of the late Sir Wilberforce Essandor, the versatile elder in the Gha­naian community in Finland, who died in Finland in 2021.

Accomplishments and honours

It is important to recount accomplishments as part of the success stories of the personalities of Ghanaian descent in Finland to high­light their exploits both within the Ghanaian migrant community and in the wider Finnish society.

Mrs Brewu was the first Ghanaian migrant to be elected as a Deputy Council­lor in the Finnish elections in 2021. Recently, another Ghanaian migrant, Lukuma­nu Iddrissu, has become the first Ghanaian to be elect­ed as a Councillor in this month’s (April 2025) elec­tions. This feat thus goes a step further. I hope to do a write-up on his story in due course.

Even so, in terms of the achievement of being elected in elections in Fin­land, Mrs Brewu is arguably a trailblaser within the Ghanaian migrant com­munity. She however did not stand in this April 2025 elections.

Education and employ­ment exploits

In Ghana, Mrs Brewu went to Fijai Senior High (then Secondary School) in Takoradi, and graduated from the Central University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Business Management and Administration, Human Resources Management (from 2000 to 2004). She then did national service in one of the banks in Ghana.

After that, Mrs Brewu came to Finland in 2007 and did a Master’s degree in Economics, obtaining an MSc Econs with Interna­tional Management as her major.

She learned the Finnish language and undertook an internship position at the HR Department of the Espoo City Central Administration.

Mrs Brewu later worked at the Education sector of Espoo City and also at the Finnish Elementary Educa­tion Unit as an Assistant in the Language and Culture department, which is in charge of the placement of foreign students arriving in Finland as well as native lan­guage training for those who speak Finnish as a second language.

From there, she became the Coordinator of multi­cultural affairs in the Youth and Sports unit at Espoo City as part of integrating immi­grants and helping them to actively participate in the Finnish society. In what can be seen as a two-way affair, she helped to introduce the Finnish culture to immi­grants (foreigners) while introducing immigrants’ orig­inal cultures to the Finnish audience.

Political interests and achievements

Mrs Brewu was long har­bouring the desire to enter into politics in Finland but did not give it any strong thoughts until around 2017. As she told me, in 2017 someone contacted her to stand in the Finnish Munic­ipal elections. She obliged and stood, but she lost in that elections.

She stood again in 2021, encouraged by her father, Mr Essandor. She won this time around and became a Dep­uty Councillor. The victory was unique and hard won on the ticket of the relative­ly small and conservative Christian Democrats Party (Suomen Kris­tillidemokraattinen Puolue, KD).

The victory was also a huge consolation not just to herself and family, but also to the entire Ghana­ian migrant commu­nity as her father, Mr Essandor, a Patron of the Ghana Union Finland as an asso­ciation representing Ghanaian immigrants in Finland, had died a few weeks earlier in May that year.

Religious life

Mrs Brewu is a prominent member of the Methodist Church in Finland. She plays an active role in the church as the Nation­al Head of the Youth Ministry.

Mrs Brewu also coordinates inter­national work in her local congregation and serves as an interpreter in church events as well as sings in the choir.

Her role in the Ghanaian community

As mentioned earlier, Mrs Brewu is very active in the Ghanaian community. She is almost always seen in events organised by the Ghana Union Finland, the non-gov­ernmental organisation for the Ghanaian migrant com­munity in Finland.

She is no doubt a role model for many within the Ghanaian migrant communi­ty in Finland, especially the young ones. She has pas­sion for empowering young people of immigrant descent and promoting the integra­tion of adult immigrants through work.

Mrs Brewu lives in Espoo, a part of the larger Helsinki Metropolitan area, with her husband and children.

In conclusion, I would say Mrs Brewu has succeeded in embossing her name among the firsts in Finnish politics and within the Ghanaian community.

Email: perpetual.crentsil@yahoo. com

By Perpetual Crentsil