‘Let’s fight cancer with accurate info’

The wife of the Niger State governor, Dr. Amina Sani-Bello has stated that dearth of information on cancer has led to so many myths and misinformation about the disease, saying that increased awareness is the only way to correct the wrong information on the disease.

According to her, inaccurate information on cancer has greatly hindered a lot of people from accessing the necessary care they urgently need.

Bello, who stated this in a press conference to commemorate the World Cancer Day in Minna, said that increased awareness, accurate information and knowledge will help the people recognise early signs of cancer.

“We believe increased awareness, accurate information and knowledge can help us recognise early warning signs, make informed choices about our health, misconceptions and fears about cancer.”

She lamented that most of the cases her Foundation, Raise Foundation gets are when the patients are in the advanced stage that nothing can be done to offer them succour.

“Our experience dealing with cancer patients has shown that majority had no idea what cancer was prior to their diagnosis. Majority of cases are diagnosed at the late stages of the disease when the chances of cure are unlikely. This leads to many deaths that could have been prevented.

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“At least, one-third of cancer cases are preventable and the other two-third has better outcomes with early detection. Awareness and prevention go hand in hand as the former encourages prevention.”

Bello further disclosed that in the past two years, Raise Foundation has screened 2,918 people for breast cancer and 2,764 people for cervical cancer adding that out of this number, 41 people were operated upon for breast cancer while 10 were diagnosed for cervical cancer.

She said that out of the 41 breast cancer patients operated upon, five were discovered to be cancerous while out of the 10 cervical cancer cases, seven turned out to be full blown cancer cases.

“Out of the five breast cancer patients, we lost tweaking the way while three others are still receiving treatment. It is sad because 90 per cent of the women who come to us with breast cancer are already at the advanced stage.”

The governor’s Wife then urged the media to join in the fight against cancer by raising awareness which will go a long way in reducing the myths and misinformation surrounding the disease.