Through the years, cancer-related illnesses and deaths have doubled in Nigeria and the conditions may get even worse by the day if adequate precautions are not taken fast.
The Chief radiation therapist at the College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, Dr. Omobolaji Saba made this observation while delivering a lecture at a breast cancer awareness seminar organised by Jama at ul Islamiyya of Nigeria in Lagos last week.
According to Saba, there are more than 2 million recorded cases of cancer currently in the country with over 100,000 new cases yearly.
While attributing the high incidence of the disease largely to poor healthy lifestyle practices and weak health care delivery system in the country, the guest lecturer pointed out that the good news was that the disease is not only curable but also preventable.
He noted that although, the disease was not a respecter of person, age or any part of the body, women are at a higher risk of getting cancer, especially breast and cervical cancers.
The radiotherapist listed factors that can trigger the disease to include hereditary, overweight, unhealthy diet with low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, sexually transmitted HPV-infections, alcohol use, intense heat, excessive air pollution and smoke from solid fuels, among others. “But all these are avoidable when we cultivate good diets and safe lifestyle. And since the disease develops gradually in the body, I will advise everyone especially from 40 years to always go for periodic medical check-ups as early detection is the best way to fight the disease,” he said.
He however revealed that most cases in LUTH are presented rather too late, mostly when sufferers had sought medical help at wrong places without solution, a condition, he said, which usually make the disease almost untreatable
Speaking on how the disease can be prevented through good diets, Dr. Rashidat Ameen Mubarak, a nutritionist from Alliance in Motion
Incorporation, said people should watch what they eat as not every food is safe for consumption.
According to her, adult persons, especially from their 40s should avoid excessive intake of carbonated foods, especially juices, concoction, alcohol, red meat and so on but to take more of vegetables and natural fruits as well as water.
By: Tunbosun Ogundare
National Mirror News
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