Olatunji-Agunbiade disclosed this at an event organised by Beulah World Initiative in partnership with Covenant University to commemorate the World Cancer Awareness Month held in Ota, Ogun State on Monday.
According to her, breast cancer accounts for 26.7 per cent of all cancer-related deaths among women.
She said, “Breast cancer could be found in both youths and the elderly alike, and is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women as well as accounting for 26.7 per cent of all prevailing malignancies in women.
“Recent research has been carried out and revealed that using contraceptives to prevent pregnancy is one of the major causes of breast cancer in the country. All contraceptives sometimes lead to cancer and they are not safe for human consumption.”
Olatunji-Agunbiade, however, noted that early detection, healthy lifestyle, and modification of reproductive behaviour can help to potentially cure breast cancer.
“Breast cancers that are detected when smaller or not palpable are more treatable and thus are associated with a more favourable prognosis. Also, healthy lifestyles, modification of reproductive behaviour, physical examination by health care professionals, breast self-examination, and mammography can help to minimize the trend of breast cancer cases in the country.”
Also speaking at the event, the founder and coordinator, Beulah World Initiative, Chichi Ononiwu, appealed to women to engage in regular check-ups whenever they notice any change in their body system.
Ononiwu said, “Each year, individuals, businesses, and communities come together to show their support to people affected by breast cancer. It was based on this that BWI partnered with CApiC- ACE, to create the forum for propagating breast cancer awareness to educate women and stem the tide.
“Our mission is to advance the quality of life of rural and sub-urban communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the improvement of health, leadership development, and education support. We are appealing to women to go for check-ups once they observe or suspect anything abnormal in their body system.”
Also, the Director, CApiC-ACE, Covenant University, Emeka Iweala, lauded the Federal Government on its support for research on breast cancer which can help the country win the battle against the disease.
“The purpose of studying breast cancer was to develop safe and effective methods to prevent, detect, diagnose, treat and ultimately cure the disease. The Federal Government is making efforts to fight cancer, and the country is winning the battle against this disease.
“The Federal Government is supporting research in various ways; the centre is supported and funded by a loan from the World Bank which is a loan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Iweala stated.
