The scourge of cancer is said to be on the increase in Nigeria and research has shown that breast cancer accounts for 10.4 per cent of several cancer incidents among women, making it the most prevalent type of cancer in women. Mary Ekah writes about an organisation’s efforts to reduce cancer prevalence in Nigeria

It has been established that one in every 25 Nigerian women is at risk of breast cancer and although its actual cause has surprisingly eluded scientists, it has nonetheless been established that cancer occurs when the cells of the body multiply in an uncontrolled manner.
The scourge of cancer is reported to be on the increase in Nigeria. Though cancer can occur in just about any organ of the body, research has shown that breast cancer accounts for 10.4% of several cancer incidents among women, making it the most prevalent type of non-skin cancer in women and the fifth most common cause of deaths occasioned by cancer.

In 2004, breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide (7% of cancer deaths; almost 1% of all deaths), according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Breast cancer, (malignant breast neoplasm), medical experts say, is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or lobules that supply the ducts with milk.

WHO 2013 Report on Global Health Estimates stated that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women both in the developed and less developed world. It is estimated that worldwide over 508, 000 women died in 2011 due to breast cancer and although breast cancer is thought to be a disease of the developed world, almost 50% of breast cancer cases and 58% of deaths occur in less developed countries.

It was therefore a timely intervention when the MTN Foundation (MTNF) begun its free breast cancer screening for 1,500 beneficiaries across the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria during the Foundation’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, which took place in Lagos on Saturday, October 18 to commemorate the annual global awareness on the scourge of breast cancer held every October.

MTNF Director, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, said that the free mammography screenings would be carried out in partnership with Deux Projects under the MTNF Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. He said this was one of the many projects that the MTN Foundation is particularly very passionate about because of the positive impact it will make on people’s lives.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared breast cancer as the number one cancer scourge afflicting people, and one in eight women is at risk of having breast cancer in their lifetime. And according to the MTNF Director, ‘‘Breast cancer is currently the commonest cancer in Nigeria. Early detection can help put a check on several needless and painful deaths of our women.”

He said therefore that, the, “initiative, which underscores the essence of the Foundation to positively impact the lives of Nigerians, will be providing free breast cancer screening at MTN Mammography centers located at the, General Hospital, Marina, Lagos State; Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State; Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State; Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto State; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State and Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.”

The Foundation during its awareness walk, which was mainly to commemorate the global awareness on the scourge of breast cancer held annually in October, took to the streets of Lagos distributing fliers and educating the public on how to prevent and manage the disease. The Foundation also made arrangements to provide free mammography screening for 1, 500 beneficiary’s access to breast screening and facilitate early detection, and ultimately help in the reduction of mortality in the country. The MTN executives, stakeholders and key influencers who participated in the awareness road-show which kicked off from Falomo roundabout and terminated at Freedom Park, Marina, Lagos were seen distributing fliers and educating the public on breast cancer.

The walk, Goodluck said, will be replicated in beneficiary states which include Edo, Enugu, Sokoto, Yola and Kogi, to sensitize the public about breast cancer with medical practitioners and specialists on ground to enlighten people and encourage women to get screened at designated points.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony of the MTNF breast cancer awareness campaign in Lagos, wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola who is also a breast cancer survivor, said that consistent screening and early detection saved her from the killer disease.

‘‘Early detection and screening is the reason I am alive today. Early detection can definitely help detect 85 to 90 per cent of all breast cancers, even before the lump in the breast is felt. It is therefore advised that women above 30 years avail themselves of the service once a year while those with a history of cancer in the family should do the screening twice a year.’’

Medical Director, Optical Cancer Care Foundation, Dr. Femi Olaleye, during the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk by the MTN Foundation, noted that one in every 25 Nigerian women is at risk of breast cancer, a reason that makes it imperative for women to get screened every year to prevent untimely death. He said 80 per cent of cases in Nigeria are usually detected in advanced state when little or nothing can be done.

“In Nigeria, most of the diagnoses are made when it is already too late, an unfortunate situation that leads to several needless and painful deaths of our beloved women every year. One or two in every 25 Nigerian women are at risk of breast cancer, but higher risks exist for women who are older than 45, older than 30 at the birth of their first child, and women with family history of cancer,’’ he said.

At the event, Olaleye demonstrated how breast self-examination is done to check for lumps, thickenings and nipple discharge. Medical practitioners were also available to perform clinical breast examination and offer free advisory services.

However, breast cancer is not detected with the naked eye, although a regular monthly examination could reveal early signs such as lumps or discharge but the symptoms are often hidden within the tissues. It is only through the use of appropriate diagnostic tools that cancers can be identified. This is what makes the six Mammography Centres installed within governmental hospitals across the six geopolitical zones of the country by the corporate social investment vehicle of MTN Nigeria, MTN Foundation (MTNF), a timely and worthwhile intervention. These centres were set up to help prevent breast cancer in women of reproductive ages and provide an affordable outlet for diagnosis and treatment.

Mammography can assist the physician in the detection of the disease in patients even if there are no outward signs or symptoms.  The program evaluates certain tissues to determine if they have sub-clinical breast diseases. Diagnostic mammography is used to evaluate a patient with abnormal clinical findings, such as a breast lump or lumps and nipple discharge, among others, that may have been detected by the woman or her doctor. Most medical experts agree that in order to maximize the potential for the cure of a patient's breast cancer, early diagnosis plays an important role.  Mammography plays a central part in the early detection of breast cancer because it can show changes in the breast that are suspicious for cancer before a patient or physician can feel or see them.

MTNF ultramodern mammography centre established under one of the flagship projects of the health portfolio, tagged Medical Support Project (MSP), is equipped with standard accessories, such as cytoguide and stereotactic biopsy system, compression paddle, face shields, and exposure control box. They are located at General Hospital, Marina, Lagos State, Specialist Hospital, Irrua, Edo State; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; Uthman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe and Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State.

With these centres, women need not to travel long distances to get regular screening; it is completely free for the first 250 patients in the beneficiary states. In essence, these centres will make it much more convenient and affordable for women to undergo regular screening.
Due to the convenience that the facilities bring to Nigerians particular beneficiaries, medical practitioners are at an advantage in advising their formerly reluctant patients to engage in the screening, as the availability and affordability will likely convince more women to come forward for screening. These centres are bringing succour to many who have little or no resources to get such services from private medical service providers. For the many women across Nigeria who are potential victims of breast cancer, the mammography machines and ancillary facilities present renewed hope that the affliction can be detected early, and ultimately save Nigerians the pain, grief and other costs associated with breast cancer.

MTN Foundation is currently executing various projects in 341 locations across the 36 states of Nigeria, including the FCT. The Foundation has spent over N10.5 billion on social projects in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment. Recently, the Foundation deployed state-of-the-art Mobile Clinics stocked with medical equipment and drugs to States across the six geopolitical zones. These mobile clinics have helped to reduce the incidence of maternal and child deaths, especially in rural communities.