Medical experts have revealed that a staggering 23 percent of Nigerian women are grappling with breast cancer.
The data was shared by the Chief Medical Director of MeCure Healthcare Limited, Dr. Adeniji Adeoluwa, who further stated that an estimated 140,000 new cases are likely to be diagnosed annually.
Speaking at an event in Lagos to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Adeoluwa said, “Generally, breast cancer is a disease that affects mostly women, but men also have breast cancer. For men, it is not as common as we have in women, and that is the reason nobody talks about breast cancer in men.
“In this part of the world, people prevent it very late. They come when the cancer is advanced. As a result, you will do your best, but you cannot cure the cancer. Cancer is curable when detected very early. It is the reason for having this campaign so that people can know that the whole essence is for them to go to the hospital, report the cases on time, detect them early, and be cured.
“When it comes to breast cancer globally, we emphasize prevention, early detection, and early treatment. When we talk about prevention, we talk about creating awareness. For instance, letting people know what they can do to prevent cancer.”
Dr. Adeoluwa expressed deep concern over the high mortality rate of breast cancer in West Africa, attributing it to delayed preventive measures.
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He emphasized the critical importance of early detection and treatment, urging women to be vigilant about their health and seek immediate medical attention if they notice any abnormalities.
The dearth of oncologists in the country was also highlighted as a significant hurdle.
With fewer than 100 oncologists in Nigeria, some states are devoid of a single specialist. This shortage is further exacerbated by the fact that many fully trained oncologists opt to leave the country.
Dr. Adeoluwa appealed to policymakers to foster a conducive environment for medical practitioners and allocate more resources to the healthcare sector. He emphasized that early detection and treatment are the cornerstones of curing cancer and reducing the mortality rate.
This sobering statistic underscores the pressing need for heightened awareness, robust healthcare infrastructure, and effective policies to wage a successful battle against breast cancer in Nigeria.