ENUGU — Professor Ifeoma Okoye on Tuesday enjoined all women to be boobs vigilant as early detection of cancer saves lives; cancer is not a death sentence.
Prof. Okoye, founder of Breast Without Spot, BWS, a non-governmental organization said this in an Educational and awareness creation meeting organized by BWS initiative and Bringing Back Beauty project, BBB, in collaboration with Oncology Center University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, in Enugu State.
The 3days program dedicated to empowering African women’s capacity to be both, more knowledgeable and proactive about breast and cervical cancer kicked off on the 3rd of October 2021 with a free screening for breast and cervical cancer and ended on Tuesday the 5th of October; the medical screening was held at Spring of Life International School, Enugu.
October 5th every year is endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Health, as Nationwide Go Pink Day in Nigeria since 2015, with the aim of increasing awareness on cancer prevention and imperativeness of early screening to save life.
Well over 450 women were screened in Enugu and subsequently trained to pay the good deed forward by advocating for prevention and early detection of breast and cervical cancer for all women especially those in the rural communities.
“Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer death in women!”
“In Nigeria, women at risk of breast cancer increased steadily from approximately 24.5% million in 1990 to approximately 40million in 2010 and are projected to rise above 50million in 2020 & 2021.”
“Nigeria has the highest cancer death in Africa, driven mostly by ‘late presentation’, ‘out of pocket’ payment and unaffordable medical bills associated with late presentation,” the pinky Prof said.
“Cancer kills 60% more persons than HIV, Malaria, and Tuberculosis put together but early detection of it saves lives and all hands must be on the plough to change the Breast Cancer narrative,” Okoye said.
Okoye further advocates lifestyle modification for healthy living; regular exercise, eating lots of vegetables at a ratio of 3(vegetables) to 1(carbohydrate and protein), no alcohol, eat more of local foods not canned foods and drinks amongst others.
Dr Amaka Nnamani, a consultant Radiologist and member of the Breast Without Spot initiative then trained the participants on appropriate self-breast examination.
A monthly examination of the breast should be done between the 7th-9th day after menstruation and any fixed date for women in the postmenopausal stage; consistency is the key.
Nnamani called on the women present to know their breasts as this will help them during self-examination.
Examine the breast size, colour of the skin over your breast, skin around your nipple and the nipples; look out for any change and lump no matter the size.
A retracted nipple and changes in the breast size and colour and palpable lump may be a sign of cancer but it is advised that a biopsy be done to ascertain if the lump is benign or malignant.
“Examination is not complete without expressing the breast; squeeze the breast to the nipple. For women who are not breastfeeding, take note of the colour of the nipple discharge; is it milky, clear or bloody? Present your report to the doctor,” Dr Nnamani advised.
Another free breast and cervical screening is scheduled in three weeks’ time in Enugu; time and venue to be communicated later.
Other speakers in the event include Dr. Umar Alhassan Adamu, President Nigerian Cancer Society; Dr. Ikechukwu Obi, Commissioner for Health in Enugu state; Dr. Kenneth Nwankwo, Head of Department Radiotherapy UNTH; Dr. Tina Barton; a cancer survivor Mrs. Ijeoma (Awka, Anambra state); and Mrs. Shalom Lloyd.
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