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Breast cancer has killed more women than is being reported – Akeredolu

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Wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has said that breast cancer has killed more women across Nigeria than is actually being reported.

Akeredolu, who is a breast cancer survivor, made the speech during the inauguration of the Lagos Chapter of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) in Ikeja.

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She said that without appropriate awareness on the dangers of living an unhealthy lifestyle, more women and even men were at risk of being killed by the disease.

While urging the government to provide and upgrade existing equipment vital to the treatment of breast cancer at the nation’s health facilities, Akeredolu, who is the founder of BRECAN, said that without such support systems, cancer would continual be a menace in the country.

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She said, “It breaks my heart every time I see women afflicted with breast cancer and not sure whether they will make it. They have no money to access care and even when they have it, the radiotherapy machines are simply not working at the hospitals.

“The dysfunctional state of our health care system, especially when it comes to breast cancer, is really worrisome and that is why many of our women are dying every day, more than is actually being reported.

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“Therefore, if we really want to fight breast cancer, awareness is the entry point. Cancer does not really kill; it is the depression suffered by the victims that actually kill. So, if we have the right type of facilities in our hospitals to address this problem and we sensitise our people well enough, the battle against breast cancer would be won in no time.”

The Chairperson of the group in Lagos, Mrs. Vivian Okorie and its National President, Mrs. Juliet Ogbogu, said expressed their commitment to educating more people across the natiom about cancer and the need to practice healthy eating habits.