Posted by By Chinedu Eze on
Breast and cervical cancer have been identified as the second and third major killer diseaseS of women in Nigeria after maternal death .
Breast and cervical cancer have been identified as the second and third major killer diseaseS of women in Nigeria after maternal death .
This was disclosed yesterday by Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Professor Esther Uzoamaka Ajuluchukwu during a sensitization workshop on breast and cervical cancer organized by Mater Medic Association, an NGO made up of wives of medical doctors in the state.
Ajuluchukwu explained that there is no definite cause of the diseases, but however noted that some studies associate the ailments with heredity and chemical reactions in the individual, noting that many women are endangered by the diseases.
She said that the safest way to identify breast and cervical cancer is for a woman to check herself regularly and to periodically go for medical check-up, observing sadly that whenever a woman identifies a lump in her breast and it is diagnosed as cancer that means it has started spreading although could respond to treatment if attended to immediately.
Because you don't know exactly the cause in each patient, the best thing is to detect the cancer early before it starts spreading. You can detect it early by mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),Ajuluchukwu explained.
The wife of the late veteran journalist, Chief MCK Ajuluchukwu regreted that most teaching hospitals in Nigeria lack the equipment to check both breast and cervical cancer and urged government to place their priorities right, she added that the fund which one wealthy individual could use to go for medical check up overseas could buy one of such equipment for one teaching hospital in the country.
She expressed the hope that as more women are getting into political offices they would be able to influence government decision in getting the facilities to all the teaching hospital in the country.
In a welcome address, the president of Mater Medic Association and wife of the Chief Medical Director of Ebonyi University Teaching Hospital, Mrs. Buchi Chukwu stated the objective of the association to include sensitizing the society on the dangers of various diseases, especially those diseases that are prevalent among women.
She explained that the enlightenment campaign on the breast and cervical cancer was as a result of the increase in the number of women diagnosed with the diseases, which, according to her, together rank second to maternal mortality as the most dangerous afflictions of women all over the world.
Mrs. Chukwu said that the campaign of the association focuses on the self-examination of the breast and cervix to help in prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer.