DR. AMINA ABUBAKAR BELLO
It has been estimated that two out of every 10 women would get breast cancer at some point. Is this true, and if not, what are the real statistics in Nigeria at the moment?
There is currently no accurate information available on the true incidence of breast cancer in Nigeria. This is because many of the figures available have been taken from hospital data and the cases in the general population, especially in the rural areas, are not reported. And so we cannot say we have any accurate data. However, there are two cancer registries in the country and the data from both registries show breast cancer to be the most common cancer in women followed by cervical cancer.
Why is Cancer still the most dreaded disease, by far out beating even AIDS in these modern times?
Cancer is a disease that is very aggressive and one that spreads to different parts of the body. And when it spreads, it becomes difficult to treat and eventually the person succumbs to the disease. When it is detected early, the chances for cure are extremely high but most people present it too late for this. In the case of AIDS, there are drugs available now that suppress the virus that causes the disease significantly such that people can live a normal life even when the case is advanced. This is not the case with cancer. Once it has invaded the other structures in the body, there is hardly any cure.
Surely, like all dangerous ailments, shouldn’t much stronger drugs be available for a much higher successful rate of survival?
The aim of treatment of cancer is to remove all traces of the disease as much as possible to avoid its spread to the other organs of the body. By its very nature, the treatment for cancer is much more complicated compared with other ailments and is not only limited to the use of drugs. The modalities for treatment of cancer are many and include; Surgery, Chemotherapy (which is the use of drugs) and Radiotherapy (which is the use of radiation). The type of modality used depends on the type of cancer the person has and the stage at which the patient presents with at the time of treatment. In majority of cases, treatment involves a combination of the modalities for example, surgery and chemotherapy or surgery and radiation or even the three combined.
What avenues should be made available for women of today towards prevention, counselling and fight against Cancer?
Early detection remains the best chances of survival for women with breast cancer and one of the best ways of detecting early breast cancer is through a screening test called mammography. A mammogram is like an x-ray of the breast, which allows for the detection of abnormalities in the breast even before a woman starts to feel symptoms. It is advised that women over the age of forty should have regular mammograms and should ask their doctors to refer them to where they can get this test done. Additionally, women should be aware of the early symptoms of the disease and also learn how to perform self-breast examinations. These examinations done once a month can help women detect abnormalities with their breast such as lumps early enough for them to go to their doctors for proper assessments. Hospitals and clinics need to have these services available for women so that they have access to the right information as well as the tests.
How much work has the Raise Foundation done in this area?
The foundation is involved in advocacy and sensitisation on awareness of breast and cervical cancer and we reach out to our religious and community leaders to help us take the message to the grassroots. We have a cancerscreening centre located in Minna the state capital where we provide screening services for both breast and cervical cancer. We conduct mammograms for women and provide them with information on breast and cervical cancer and how to prevent it. We conduct outreaches in the rural areas across the LGAs of the state where we teach women self-breast examinations in addition to the screening services we provide. We have partnered with the state Ministry of Health and other civil society organizations and NGOs to conduct these outreaches and this has contributed tremendously in increasing the awareness of the disease in the State.
What goals does the foundation have as regards breast cancer for the next three to five years? What priorities will help you achieve them? What barriers are in your way?
Our overall goal is to see that we reduce the number of women dying from breast cancer in Nigeria. We intend to do that by increasing the awareness of the disease and helping to set up an organized screening programme such that all women can access these services easily thereby increasing the early detection and increasing chances of survival. Our major barriers are the lack of knowledge and misconceptions about the disease by the general public and the limited number of screening services available in the country. The issue of funding is also another very important barrier in our fight against breast cancer. But with the combined efforts of the Government and partner organizations, we will be able to overcome these barriers.
Our major barriers are the lack of knowledge and misconceptions about the disease by the general public and the limited number of screening services available in the country. The issue of funding is also another very important barrier in our fight against breast cancer. But with the combined efforts of the Government and partner organizations, we will be able to overcome these barriers.
Has working with women who are treating breast cancer changed your perception of life?
It has certainly increased my determination to continue the work we are doing against the disease. We have a strong collaboration right now among wives of governors who are working on Breast cancer. It is really so encouraging and motivating.