Health

‘30,000 women die of breast cancer in Nigeria yearly’

 

There is increasing mortality rate from breast cancer in Nigeria with an annual record of  about 30,000 women losing  their lives to  the terminal disease.
This was disclosed by a Surgical Oncologist with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Dr. Ademola Adeyeye.
Featuring on a Radio Kwara programme, ‘Your Health and You’, monitored  in Ilorin, on Thursday, the medical practitioner decried the high prevalence of breast cancer in Nigeria.
According to him, out of all the  maglinancy  cases presented in Nigerian hospitals, breast cancer accounts for 25 per cent, attributing late presentation of cases for treatment to increasing annual deaths.
The medical expert explained that according to research, one out of 18 women in the country are susceptible to breast cancer.
“The incidence of cancer is increasing globally especially among younger people. One out of eight caucausian women are likely to develop breast cancer in their lifetime while in Nigeria one out of 18 females are susceptible to it.
“Cancer is something we have to be concerned about. It is dreaded in the western world and as such called the ‘Big C’.
He stressed that breast cancer constitutes a public health issue globally, with millions of new cases diagnosed annually.
Adeyeye, however, bemoaned lack of reliable national data on cancer, saying that available figures do not reflect current realities.
“On the burden of cancer in Nigeria, unfortunately we do not have reliable national figures. Results emanate from hospitals and individuals. That is not full representation of cases of cancer that occured in our country,” he added.
The medical doctor said in a global effort to raise awareness on breast cancer, October has been earmarked for the purpose.
Adeyeye further said October  is a month where efforts to educate those concerned about the disease, including early identification and signs and symptoms associated with breast cancer.
He said comprehensive breast cancer control consists of prevention, early diagnosis and screening, treatment, palliative care, and survivorship care, urging everyone to be part of strong national cancer control plans

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