Breast cancer remains leading cause of women’s death in Nigeria – BRECAN

Late presentation and not detecting breast cancer in time to initiate treatment, the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria said has made the disease a major cause of death among Nigerian women.

The National President of BRECAN, Mrs. Tolu Taiwo, made this known in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday during a Breast Cancer Sensitisation programme.

She said the prevalence of breast cancer has become quite disturbing that people in their 20s now come down with the ailment, adding, “Many more of such were detected late when the disease has advanced and could not be cured,” she said.

The BRECAN president said this situation led to the yearly ‘Jog for Life’ campaign and other activities lined up by the association for market women and in Primary Healthcare Centres and schools.

She said, “Now we have teenagers with lumps in their breasts, unlike before. Our message now is that if you detect anything early, you cry out early. And when you treat early, you will definitely be fine,” she said.”

Taiwo bemoaned what she described as the poor attitude of Nigerians to self-breast examination and medical checks and attributed it to the reason why people present stage three or four level cancer.

The founder of BRECAN and wife of the Ondo State Government, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, said cancer should no longer be seen as a death sentence.

According to her, “You should visit your hospitals whenever you notice any unusual thing such as a lump in your breast and not focus on religion alone as the solution.

“With what BRECAN has been doing and known for we are raising awareness that breast cancer can be done,” Anyanwu-Akeredolu, who was represented at the event by Mr Alex Uka, Special Adviser on Special Duties, said.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Odoba Oche, said the campaign was to let Nigerians know the danger of late presentation of breast cancer, stressing that precaution remains the best treatment for breast cancer.

The lead jogger for the ‘2023 Jog for Life’, Mrs. Josephine Onitshabo, said people need to get the right information about breast cancer.

She urged women to engage in regular breast self-examination for early detection to know if there is a lump or pain.

Onitshabo also encouraged women to shun the fear of stigmatisation and go to hospitals to get help.