Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue. Most common types are breast cancer, prostrate cancer, basal cell cancer ,skin cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, leukemia and lymphoma. It develops when the body’s normal mechanism stops working and old cells rather than die grow out of control forming new abnormal cells. These extra cells may form a mass of tissue called tumour though some cancers like leukemia do not form cells.
The good news is that as deadly and dreaded as cancer is ,it is preventable and can also be cured if detected early. Adoption of healthy lifestyles like regular exercises, consumption of fruits and vegetables, avoidance of high salt diets and smoking have been identified to help in preventing cancer.
The theme for this year’s World Cancer Day ‘I Am and I Will’, is a reminder of the enduring power of cooperation and collective action required to fight cancer. When we choose to come together, we can achieve what we all wish for: a healthier, brighter world without cancer.
Against this backdrop, Rivers state, commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike while commemorating this year’s World Cancer Day called for early screening noting that while one third of cancer diseases are preventable, five patients among women in the state are diagnosed monthly for cancer, due to late stage of infection.
He said the theme of this year’s World Cancer Day was to focus on commitment and actions aimed at saving millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, as well as pressurizing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease.
Prof. Chike further said most cancers can be prevented and mobility/mortality rates reduced through change of behaviour , exercises, vaccination against infections , and screening for early detection adding that the commitment of the Rivers state Government, Bar Nyesom Wike such as continuous training of health workers for cancer screening has yielded tremendous results in the fight against cancer.
He disclosed that free mass screening is ongoing in 50 centres scattered around the state with the target of reaching 100,000 women by the end of the year.
For women ,the most common cancer is breast and cervical cancer this accounts for why the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has encouraged women to go for regular checkups and examinations.
In a statement signed by the National President and National Secretary of NAWOJ, Ladi Bala and Helen Udofia respectively to commemorate this year’s World Cancer Day the association acknowledged the fact that every one’s commitment to act will lead to powerful progress in reducing the global impact of cancer and create a cancer-free world.
”It is a call for everyone, irrespective of who you are, because your actions big and small will make lasting, positive change”, the statement read.
According to the United Nations, such actions geared towards eradication of cancer have impact on everyone around us, within our neighbor hoods, communities and cities.
Even though Cancer has been described as the second leading cause of death globally that can occur at any age, if detected at the right time and is treated the risk of death is reduced.
There is therefore a serious need to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention. It calls for cooperation and collective action. Every one is supposed to take responsibility in fighting the scourge called
cancer. The recent studies estimate of about one out of six people worldwide dying from cancer which is more than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria put together should spur all to action.
When we choose to come together, we can achieve what we all wish for: a healthier, brighter world without cancer. Together, all of our actions matter.
Although the Federal Government, last year, allayed fears of a rise in Nigeria’s cancer burden; saying it has upgraded seven tertiary health institutions to manage invasive cancer and cancer related illnesses in the country, there are some factors that are still militating against government efforts at effectively combating cancer scourge in Nigeria.
Factors like poor awareness, poor health seeking behaviour, low level of non-governmental investments, low number of skilled health care personnel, and funding gaps. The worst is such myths like seeing cancer as a disease of the rich amid the reality that the poor and downtrodden are suffering in silence as well as misconceptions that lead to stigmatization and discrimination against people living with cancer.
Until Governments at all levels, stakeholders in the health sector and of course every individual significantly play their own role in sensitizing and organizing awareness campaigns more Nigerians would continue to die of cancer.
This year’s commemoration would be not be meaningful if the Federal and State Governments fail to partner national and international stakeholders to record more laudable achievements in managing cancer cases in the country, as well as commit adequate resources to reduce cancer deaths while providing better quality of life for patients and survivors.
Also, Non-governmental organizations, civil societies, religious organizations, and other stakeholders should intensify advocacies and organize more sensitization programmes, especially in rural areas, to enlighten the public on preventive measures to reduce the prevalence of the killer disease.
Everyone has the capacity to address the cancer burden and individuals can cooperatively work together to reduce cancer risk factors and overcome barriers to early diagnosis, treatment and palliative care in Nigeria.
In Rivers State, there is an urgent need to address the peculiar environmental pollution caused by sooth. This is because according to a surgeon, Dr Kelechi Okonta, ”there is an increase rate of lung cancer diseases because of the presence of sooth in the air. He hinted that there is a strong correlation between what is happening in the environment and the increased cases in lung, heart and kidney diseases.
Another surgeon, Dr Christian Amadi further disclosed that the lungs of most patients from Rivers State when opened during surgery is usually black. He said inhaling the sooth is worse than smoking cigarettes adding that inhaling sooth has given rise to increased lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
The foregoing means that aside adoption of healthy life style , regular exercises and medical examinations, proper and adequate care of our environment is necessary in the fight against cancer. One thing is sure cancer can be cured when detected early as most cancers can be removed with either drugs, radiotherapy or surgeries, butbone thig is surer, a healthier cancer free world is achievable.
February 4, every year is observed as World Cancer Day. It is an international event to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
