Over 500 women on Tuesday benefited from free cervical and breast cancer screening, as well as lumpectomy surgery, in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, a programme which is the initiative of Uplift Development Foundation.
Penpushing report that the screening exercise by the foundation owned by former first lady of Ogun State, Olufunso Amosun was the 14th edition held at the Telemedicine Centre of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta.
The founder of the foundation explained that the initiative was borne out of the urgent need to reduce breast and cervical cancer deaths in Nigeria, especially among women in low and middle-income communities where access to treatment is limited.
Penpushing further reports that she disclosed that globally, more than 19 million new cancer cases and almost 10 million deaths are recorded annually, with breast cancer topping the chart, stressing that Nigeria is projected to record over 32,000 new cases of breast cancer in 2025, with the country ranked among those with the highest mortality rate.
The former first lady added that the foundation has over the years provided advocacy, screening, and treatment support to over 10,000 women, as well as established cancer care clinics across Ogun State.
Penpushing also reports that Amosun, while encouraging women to take advantage of the free programme, maintained that cancer is not a death sentence, but one that requires rapid action, regular self-examination, and mutual support among women.
The former first lady while assuring that this year’s edition will equally provide free lumpectomy surgery, with support from her husband, former Governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Penpushing reports that consultant gynaecologist at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Dr. Hameedah Omoyele Abdulsalam, in her keynote address, emphasized that cervical and breast cancer can be prevented and treated when detected early.
The gynaecologist explained that cervical cancer, which killed about 600,000 people globally as of 2022, is caused mainly by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), with other risk factors including smoking and multiple sexual partners.
Penpushing further reports that Abdulsalam urged women to embrace regular screening and vaccination, stressing that cancer has four stages, and survival chances are higher when discovered in its early stages.
Meanwhile, one of the speakers Dr. E.S. Nkom, narrated a case of a woman who concealed her breast cancer until it reached stage four, which later claimed her life, stressing that symptoms should never be ignored and encouraged women to always speak out and seek medical help early.
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