Amosun: Cancer not death sentence…

A former Ogun State First Lady, Olufunso Amosun, has urged women to prioritise cancer screening, saying early detection and treatment can significantly improve survival chances.

Speaking on Wednesday at the flag-off of the 2026 free breast and cervical cancer screening at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Amosun said cancer should not be regarded as a death sentence.

According to Punch, she cited Global Cancer Observatory 2022 data showing Nigeria recorded 32,278 new breast cancer cases and 16,332 deaths, describing the burden as the highest in Africa.

Amosun said survival rates could exceed 90 per cent when cancer is detected early, compared with less than 30 per cent for advanced cases.

She said more than 600 women participated in the foundation’s 2025 screening programme, with 22 found to have breast-related concerns. Eleven women with suspicious breast lumps subsequently received free lumpectomy surgeries and post-operative care.

Medical consultant and surgeon Ebenezer Nkom also urged women to seek clinical screening rather than rely on unproven remedies.

Nkom dismissed claims that breast sucking could cure breast cancer and advised women who notice unusual changes to consult doctors immediately for proper examination and treatment, stressing that medical intervention remains crucial to preventing avoidable cancer deaths.