The small scale business owner while speaking with our correspondent disclosed that her health challenge began as a tooth ache in 2017 at her right cheek.
“It started six years ago at my right cheek. It began gradually like a tooth ache. It was paining me and looked like a boil and expanded,” she said.
“An inner cheek cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that begins when the cell that makes up the inner cheek grows out of control and forms tumours. It can also be called Buccal mucosa,” Motunrayo’s consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Onakome Johnson, explained.
Speaking on the steps she had taken, the native of Edo State said she had been to various hospitals and visited the National Hospital, Abuja in 2022, where she was told it required a corrective surgery. The surgery would cost N820,000.
“I was examined and told a surgery would be performed. I was told to look for money for the surgery but I told them I did not have the money. The surgery costs N820,000.
“I went there in September and was urged to find the money before it gets out of hand than this. I am in pains. I only have a mother. My dad is late,” she explained.
A medical report signed by the consultant, Johnson, read: “Patient presented with six years of progressive increase of the cheek swelling presently, swelling is massive located in the cheek and mandible with obliteration of naval passage with associated flaring of the nostrils.
“Historical session shows a fibro-osseous lesson composed predominantly of fibrous tissue which are fragment of mature bony tissues. The fibro tissue in some areas and acellular and hyalinised in other areas. Thin walled congested blood vessels also seen.”
While confirming Motunrayo as his patient, Johnson noted that he had known her since 2022 and affirmed the surgery would cost N820,000.
“The surgery will cost N820,000,” Johnson said in a WhatsApp conversation.
Motunrayo can be reached on her mobile number +2347013487811, while donations can be made to her Union Bank account number, 0180773704; Account name – Hassan Adeyemi.
