It is not an exaggeration that breast cancer phobia, anxiety, and depression constitute more than 50 percent of factors that have sent many breast cancer patients to early grave, as studies have shown that shock from the diagnosis make some cases worsen than the condition itself.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is one of the most widespread diseases worldwide, while breast cancer is responsible for a large percent of maternal death in Nigeria.
Narrating her true life story of how she escaped from the net of breast cancer, Della Ogunleye, a breast cancer survivor and the CEO, DDS African Cancer Support Group based in the UK, said she was diagnosed at the UK, but she didn’t fret not threatened about it, assuring herself that she has got to live her life to the fullest.
She explained how she informed her confidants about the development and she was advised to go for medical attention, and fortunately, it was removed because it was diagnosed early.
Her word: “When you are diagnosed with cancer, you need support. Somebody has to hear your voice. We should stop wallowing in self-pity. If we don’t tell the government what to do, it’s a waste of time. We should target the right audience”
For the Co-founder of the Bricon Foundation, Abigail Simon-Hart, her case was almost impossible as the cancer had spread across to the two breasts, when she was diagnosed, but she was able to break out of the condition because of her determination to get rid of it.
Hear her out:“I personally was diagnosed of breast cancer in 2014, fortunately it was discovered early. So I had a double mastectomy, which means I removed both breast and I’m currently cancer free, due to the fact that we got it early. So I’m a great advocate of cancer awareness creation, as I make bold to tell anyone I’m a cancer survivor and I’m not ashamed about it. As long as people are afraid, it brings stigma, and as long as there is stigma, people will be unwilling to come out for screening”.
Calling for more advocacy on breast cancer as it is usually observed every month of October, she noted that awareness is key, but unfortunately, most Nigerians usually present late for diagnosis, which makes it a very difficult task for the healthcare team.
To achieve the best healthcare outcome, she urged patients to seek help as soon as they notice any strange development on their bodies, “whether on your breast, skin, on urine, it is important you get it checked, because it’s all about early detection”.
