Femi Makinde, Osogbo
A consultant oncologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, Dr. Kayode Ajenifuja, has said cancer cases always result into death in Nigeria because of late detection.
Ajenifuja said this in an interview with our correspondent on the sidelines of saw ceremony to commemorate the third anniversary of Miccom Cancer Foundation in Ada, Osun State on Saturday.
The expert stressed that early detection was key in cancer treatment, adding that treatment given when the case had reached an advanced stage was always very expensive and less effective.
He said, “Cancer cases is on the increase in Nigeria. Prostate cancer is increasing in men and this is why we are urging men who are above 40 years of age to go for screening. The screening is free here at Miccom Cancer Foundation, screening for women is also free.
“Nigerians believe cancer is a death verdict because most cancer cases are always diagnosed very late. At this stage, treatment is less effective and it is very costly, that is why most of the cases presented late always result to death.
“Early detection is important. The chances of survival is very high if cancer is detected early and treatment is prompt. That is why we are telling Nigerians to go for screening.”
Anenifuja advised Nigerians to engage in moderate exercise and eating diet rich in vegetable and fruits, saying these would help to reduce incidence of cancer in the country.
He stated that this should be taught children early in life, saying this would have a far reaching effect on Nigerians.
According to him, the exact cause of these cancers were not known but he urged Nigerians to desist from smoking while urging ladies to do breast examination and men over 40 years to screen for prostate cancer.
The group solicited donation from Nigerians and foreigners to sustain the free screwing, campaigns and treatment.
The Programme Manager of the foundation, Dr. Tolulope Kuye, said the special outreach of the foundation to reach Nigerian teachers throughout the 36 states of the federation was a strategy to ensure that cancer knowledge is spread to every home in the country.
Kuye said the decision to target the teachers was strategic because they believed teachers would teach their students, who would in turn inform their parents about cancer.
The foundation urged Nigerians to periodically get screened for cancer, saying early detection would reduce increasing number of cancer related deaths in the country.
Kuye said, ” We have teachers outreach. This is a special outreach designed to reach all teachers in Nigeria starting with Osun State and reaching out to over 500 teachers so far in Osun State.
” Teachers are educators and this will enhance/widen the scope of the knowledge concerning cancers. Teachers will teach students and the students are expected to teach their parents about these cancers. Cancer is not a death sentence.”
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