In recent times, the word ‘Cancer’ has become synonymous amongst Nigerians. While late presentation of patients at advanced stages of breast cancer is becoming a common trend in Nigeria, global statistics reveal that rising global incidence of breast cancer is occurring at a faster rate in populations of developing nations, including Nigeria that hitherto enjoyed low incidence of the disease, considered by many as a death sentence.
Recent data by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) shows that one woman is diagnosed of breast cancer every 20 minutes in Nigeria and about 40 Nigerian women die of breast cancer daily, up from 30 women daily in the 2010 report. The incidence of breast cancer rose from 38.7 percent to 42.2 percent between 2008 and 2012 with about 35 percent rise in the number of deaths within the same period.
As rising cases of cancer and cost implications of treatment put Nigerians on the edge since the current minimum wage of N18, 000 may not be able to afford diagnosis, let alone procure the right medical service to manage the ailment, cancer has increasingly become a scourge lately, a situation experts say can be nipped in the bud through improved health education.
In an interview with Lola Salako, clinical radiation oncologist, Sebeccly Cancer Care, said whereas late presentation of cancer in hospitals was due to ignorance, early detection and prompt treatment is the key to surviving this deadly disease.
Salako stated that the major non-modifiable risk factors of breast cancer include gender, age, genetics, family or personal history of breast cancer, race and menstrual history. The clinical oncologist noted that lifestyle-related factors such as diet, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, using hormone replacement therapy, taking birth control pills, etc. are modifiable risk factors that fuels breast cancer.
According to Salako, “Early detection remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When breast cancer is detected early and if adequate diagnosis and treatment are available, there is a good chance that it can be cured. If detected late, curative treatment is often no longer an option. In such case, palliative care to relief the sufferings of patients and their families is needed.
She continued “Majority of deaths occur in countries where most women are diagnosed in later stages due to lack of awareness on early detection and barriers to health services, a situation that can be reverted if adequate public health programmes are put in place. Government should be involved in treatment and should invest more. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) should cover cancer, even if it is only 25 percent of the cause of cancer treatment.”
Scientific research show that early onset of menstrual periods or reaching menopause after the age of 55 years has both been associated with risks of developing Breast cancer. More worrisome is the fact that some females ignore changes that may occur around their breasts. Common signs seen in breast cancer such as breast lump are usually painless, change in size or shape of the breast or discharge from a nipple is largely ignored.
With the socio-economic toll of cancer becoming a huge public health concern, dominating healthcare expenditures in developed and developing countries, including Nigeria, Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited said it is partnering Sebeccly Cancer Care to improve health education on cancer in Nigeria.
