The Issues of Breast Cancer in Nigeria

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“Mrs. Claire Anyanwu has visited her doctor everyday for the past week. She was at the convention last month. Women were encouraged to go for medical checkups. She was luckily diagnosed early enough to be treated of ‘mild breast lumps.’ It is an ailment that could lead to breast cancer. We are happy to see women respond to our awareness programs.” said Dr. Rosa Phil (1). In her article, Dr. Phil commends Mrs. Anyanwu for taking action against breast cancer as she recommends all women do the same.

The issue of breast cancer is fast becoming a major one. There is a huge hole to be filled in the area of breast cancer awareness in Nigeria. An article posted in the ‘The Daily Trust’ titled, “Breast Cancer amongst us” claims “Nigeria is one of the many places in the world where breast cancer and other life-threatening diseases are discussed in whispers, if at all discussed” (Ade, 1). According to Chukwuma Chiedozie, in his book “Cancer”, breast cancer in Nigeria can be dated back to 1974 (653). He also states it was diagnosed in 217 Nigerian women over a 4-year period, 1974 to 1978, at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin (653). It has been stated that breast cancer is increasing globally by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and also 69% of breast cancer cases are found in developing countries. Considering the fact that Nigeria is listed among the developing countries by the CIA world fact book, the impact of breast cancer in Nigeria should be of interest to the average Nigerian. In the year 2005, breast cancer was announced to be the leading cause of deaths from cancer amongst women in Nigeria (Ade, 1).

The arousing question would be how much Nigeria is doing about breast cancer? However, before any developed or develo...

... middle of paper ...

... Nigeria. If we focus more on the issue of awareness, we may have put up a god enough challenge against breast cancer. Increased efforts from concerned, educated individuals, corporations, federations and women themselves should be enough to reach such goals.

Works Cited

Ade, Bishop. Breast Cancer amongst us. Daily Trust 17 May 2010: A6. Print.

Bola, Tope. The Sex Scandal and Consequences. Ibadan: Bowl Publishing Firm, 2010. Print.

Chukwuma, Chiedozie. Cancer. New York: Oxford, 2006. Print.

Clarke, David. Central Intelligence Agency. 1. Central Intelligence Agency, 13 Oct 2009. Web. 4

July 2011.

Komen, Susan. Interviewed by Paula Brown. On the Air Review 15.1 (2010): 3-5. Print.

Phil, Rosa. You own your Body. The Sun 11 March 2010: A14. Print.

World Health Organisation (WHO).1. World Health Organisation. n.d. Web. 4 July 2011.

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