A cancer expert, Professor Ifeoma Okoye says one out of every eight Nigerian women stands a risk of having cancer and urged that they breastfeed for longer periods, avoid smoking and late marriage to be protected from breast cancer.
Okoye, a professor of radiology at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, speaking at a virtual meeting on the theme, “Breast cancer: A serious threat to life, prevent it now,” said that breast cancer is a major health challenge and the most frequent cancer among women attacking 2.1 million yearly, causing the largest number of cancer-related deaths in women.
The cancer expert said that in Nigeria, more than 350,000 cases are reported each year and the chances of a woman developing breast cancer is affected by age at first term pregnancy that is greater than 20 years, increased number of children, contraceptive use, obesity, positive family history of breast cancer, age and exposure to environmental pollutants, including tobacco smoke and asbestos.
Professor Okoye, noting that cancer is a group of over 200 diseases with their own characteristics said the prevalence of breast cancer at the UNTH, Enugu, as other hospitals in Nigeria, including deaths from it, is rising because of poor health infrastructure for treatment and screening services, Nigerian’s poor health-seeking behaviour and expensive payment for medical treatment.
According to her, breast cancer is a scourge in Nigeria, with resultant high deaths and ill-health now in young and middle-aged women when they are best productive in contributing to the socio-economic development of the nation.
She added that “over 83 per cent of women with breast cancer are presented late for treatment at the hospital. Over 80 per cent of our population are ignorant about cancer and are totally unaware that early detection saves life; those that know are constrained by fear, procrastination, denial, cultural and socioeconomic constraints from availing themselves early detection cancer best practices.”
Okoye, a member of the National Cancer Control Steering Committee, urged that women undergo monthly breast examination and those above 40 years undergo mammogram breast examination to ensure early detection of breast cancer.
She advocated that awareness on breast examination starts from age nine to ensure the girl-child understands its importance and starts early because cancer has been found in girls as early as nine years and in its early stage it has no symptoms.
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