NOWA calls for more cancer awareness programmes, for early detection
Nov.10, 2024
Mrs Josephine Oamen, the Chairperson, Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) Lagos chapter has called for more cancer awareness programmes especially breast cancer for a timely detection and treatment of the illness.
Oamen said this on Saturday during a Walk on Cancer Awareness with the theme: “Increasing Breast Cancer Awareness, Detect it, Treat it, Defeat it” which held at the Sports Complex, Navy Town, Ojodu, Lagos.
The chairperson said that breast cancer affected about one in eight women during their life time and this statistic represents a person, a woman, a daughter, a sister, a friend or a colleague.
“While it is less common in men, men are also at risk. When breast cancer is detected early, the survival rate is significantly high.
“Early detection gives us a fighting chance, regular breasts cancer examinations are powerful steps that we can all take to protect ourselves.
“Routine screening are also essential tools that can make a life changing difference because they provide an opportunity to act early, identify changes when they are most treatable and empower us with knowledge about our health,” she said.
She commended those who were currently battling breast cancer, or those who had fought it in the past, for their honour, strength, courage, and resilience towards surviving.
“Your journey is one of courage and your story inspires us to work harder to improve the future for everyone one of us.
“Fighting cancer is about action, it is about each individual prioritising their health and living a healthy lifestyle,” she said.
Oamen said that she recently lost one of her neighbours to the ailment because the deceased was ashamed to seek help and speak about what she was silently suffering as a result of stigmatisation.
“She hid herself from everybody and didn’t want anybody to know her predicament until it had spread to the second breast and the situation had drastically degenerated.
“It is a pity we lost her without even knowing that she was going through so much just because she thought that when you have this thing, it’s a stigma.
“So, we need to educate our non educated women to understand that there is no shame in having breast cancer or whatever kind of cancer as long as you speak up early enough which is essential for proper care and detection,” she said.
The chairperson said that cancer was an expensive venture that needed a lot of caring and understanding so let us not be by ourselves but learn to support and give at times like this.
Oamen thanked all the healthcare professionals, advocates, and volunteers for the invaluable work they do to support and encourage others in the fight against cancer.
Mrs Idowu Senbanjo, Chairperson, Apapa Local Government Area (LGA) said that a lot of women were suffering in silence because they don’t not know anything about the illness and what to do to take care of themselves.
“Breast cancer disease is one that is ravaging a lot of women in our society today and a lot of grassroot women are not even aware of what it is.
“Recently we did a screening exercise in the LGA and we had six women who were susceptible to cancer.
“They have all gone for further treatment and we hope that by the end of the day, we will have good reports,” she said.
The LGA chairperson implored women to take their health seriously and check themselves from time to time.
Tinu Lawal, Founder of Atinuke Cancer Foundation and a cancer survivor said that going for regular checkup and early detection saved her life.
“I was diagnosed of cancer in 2014 and here I am today, 10 years after, a survivor so I advise women to go for regular checkups from time to time to know their status.
“Also, once you happen to discover that you have cancer, do not panic but put yourself together because the state your mind has a lot to do with your healing process.
“So once you’re diagnosed of it, just calmly look for a hospital where they have cancer centre’s where you can receive your treatment,” she said.
Lawal said that there was no cure for cancer for now and that was why living healthy, eating healthy, exercising frequently and going for regular screening was a good way to survive the disease even when detected .
