A former Ogun State First Lady, Olufunso Amosun, has urged women not to see cancer as a death sentence, stressing that early detection and prompt treatment can save lives.
Mrs Amosun made the call on Wednesday at the flag-off of the 2026 free breast and cervical cancer screening organised at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.
She said the annual screening exercise was more than a routine medical check, describing it as an opportunity to provide life-saving interventions and ensure that women have timely access to healthcare.
Mrs Amosun, while highlighting the growing burden of cancer in Nigeria, said breast cancer incidence in the country had risen by nearly 300 per cent over the past three decades.
Citing data from the Global Cancer Observatory 2022, she said Nigeria recorded 32,278 new breast cancer cases and 16,332 deaths, giving the country the highest burden on the African continent.
She, however, emphasised that early detection remained one of the most effective ways of reducing cancer-related deaths.
According to her, survival rates for patients diagnosed at an early stage could exceed 90 per cent, compared with less than 30 per cent for those diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Reflecting on the 2025 edition of the programme, the former first lady said more than 600 women benefited from the screening, while 22 women were found to have breast-related concerns.
“Out of these, 11 women diagnosed with suspicious breast lumps underwent free lumpectomy surgeries and post-operative care funded entirely by the foundation in November 2025.
“Since inception in 2012, the UPLIFT Development Foundation has focused on cancer awareness, screening, and equipping local care facilities, alongside broader humanitarian efforts targeting women, widows, and vulnerable groups across Ogun State,” she said.
Amosun encouraged women participating in the 2026 exercise to make preventive healthcare a priority, urging them not to allow fear to delay them from seeking medical attention.
She also called on the beneficiaries to become advocates for cancer awareness by sharing the message of early screening with their families, friends and communities.
Her message was simple: cancer may be a serious health challenge, but with awareness, early detection and timely treatment, it does not have to be a death sentence.
In his remarks, a Medical Consultant and Surgeon at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebenezer Nkom, de-emphasised the efficacy of native remedial measures, stating that early clinical detection will prevent mortality.
The medical expert also warned against narratives that sucking a human breast may cure breast cancer, appealing to Nigerians to pay attention to themselves.
He added that women should do away with fears of losing their breast; practitioners can reconstruct another artificial breast for the concerned.
“You shouldn’t be afraid of losing your breast; it is when you are alive that you can talk of the beauty of your husband. Some of you even thought that when a man sucks your breast, you will be healed of cancer; that is not true. Go through screening and whenever you notice anything, meet a doctor immediately.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.
