Health
FUNMI Adegbola, Founder, Society of Women in Safety, Health and Environment Africa (SOWSHE-A) has called for more clinical research to improve cancer care, treatment and survival rates for patients.
Adegbola made the call on Monday on the sidelines of a breast cancer awareness walk in Ikeja, Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated annually in October to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer, fund research into its causes, treatment and cure.
Adegbola also advised women to check their breasts regularly noting that breast cancer is not a death sentence.
She noted that self examination was important in the prevention of breast cancer adding that early detection is the key to beating the disease.
”It is highly important to do a self examination and clinical screening regularly.
”Statistics have shown that breast cancer is one of the most common diseases in women as one in every three women always has this disease.
”It is extremely important to always check one self for lumps as an early detection is the key to beating the disease and the best way to prevent it.
”Our body speaks to us, so we must always take note when our body is communicating to us and one of the ways to act on this is by going for regular checkups,” she said.
Adegbola, who is a breast cancer survivor, urged relevant authorities to carry out sensitisation programmes on breast cancer for people at the grassroots’ level.
She noted that such people do not understand the gravity of the issue, adding that enlightenment programmes must be carrried out to change their perceptions.
”Knowledge and exposure about breast cancer at the grassroots’ level are limited. This is partly because of the culture that we are in and because; we have the God forbids mentality.
”We are highly spiritual about everything but people need to understand that they must combine their spirituality, medical science and reality all at once so as to get the required result.
”One of our primary objectives is to partner government organisations and others so as take the message to the grassroots’ level and educate them about the danger of this disease and how early detection and checkup is important,” she said.
Adegbola urged the public to shun the victimisation of survivors of breast cancer, noting that such actions can affect the later’s mental health.
She urged survivors of breast cancer who are finding it difficult to integrate themselves into the society to join support group which could help them pull through that phase.
”Survivors of breast cancer find it hard to integrate themselves back into the society because it affects their mental health, pride and self esteem; so most of them get depressed.
”Some also suffer from victimisation and stigma but most importantly, the mindsets of these people must be positive and join support groups that can help in pulling them out of depression.
”Above all these, the public must desist from victimising these people, but give them all the supports they need,” she said.
NAN reports that the group offered free screening and other medical related services to women who participated in the awareness walk.(NAN)
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Tags: Funmi Adegbola SOWSHE-A
