Wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has encouraged Nigerians to apply a holistic approach to breast cancer by promoting early diagnosis and give appropriate primary surgical treatment.
She stated this at the 7th Distinguished Guest Lecture of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo tagged”A Stitch in Time Saves Lives: Breast cancer Realities in Nigeria and Actionable Steps held at the school main Auditorium.
She described breast cancer as causing highest mortality rate in most parts of the world and recognized as the most common type of malignancy in terms of both incidence and mortality in Nigeria.
According to her, early diagnosis of cancer can significantly improve cancer outcomes and patients’ survival.
She said Nigeria recorded the highest number of deaths attributed to breast cancer in Africa. Despite poor statistics, there are very few experts and specialized comprehensive cancer centers to adequately address the problem.
She noted that the high level of breast cancer rates in developing countries like Nigeria followed simultaneously high incidence of communicable diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS.
The guest speaker stressed that Nigeria has been tagged as a country with double pandemic.
She posited that the age which breast cancer incidence reaches its peak in Nigeria is between ages 35-45 years, adding that, this is a relatively lower age when compared with more developed countries where breast cancer incidence hits its peak at age 60 years and above.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu added that non-government organisation like Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) have been doing a lot of campaign to educate women and men alike on how to conduct breast self-examination and must not relent at this time.
According to her, BRECAN therefore strongly advocates that population-based screening of breast cancer using Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) be adopted as a policy and offered at the primary health care facilities, nationwide.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Friday Okonofua said the aim of the lecture series was to provide an opportunity for scientists, advocates, researchers, inventors and innovators in public health and development to present their results to community stakeholders in an easily understandable format.
The Hope
