By Ademola Ade
Former First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has raised alarm over the rising burden of breast cancer in Nigeria, saying 16,332 women died from the disease in 2022 alone.
Amosun, who called for greater awareness, regular screening and early intervention, said breast cancer should not be regarded as a death sentence, particularly when detected early and followed by appropriate treatment.
The former first lady spoke yesterday at the flag-off of the 2026 free breast and cervical cancer screening programme organised by her UPLIFT Development Foundation at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Abeokuta.
Citing figures from the Global Cancer Observatory, GLOBOCAN 2022, Amosun said Africa recorded more than 198,000 new breast cancer cases and 91,300 deaths in the year, while Nigeria accounted for 32,278 new cases and 16,332 deaths.
She said the rising incidence of breast cancer in Nigeria over the past three decades underscored the urgent need to improve awareness, screening and access to treatment.
According to her, the foundation’s annual screening programme was designed not merely as a medical exercise but as an intervention to promote preventive healthcare and ensure that women with suspected conditions receive appropriate medical attention.
She said: “This programme is much more than an annual medical exercise. It represents a commitment to saving lives, promoting healthy living and, most importantly, ensuring that women have access to information and basic healthcare services that can make a significant difference in their lives.”
Amosun said early detection provided women with a better opportunity for timely intervention and improved outcomes.
“The good news, however, is that early detection provides an important opportunity for timely medical intervention,” she said.
She cited evidence indicating that women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer could have survival rates of more than 90 per cent, compared with significantly lower survival rates when the disease is detected at an advanced stage.
She therefore urged women not to wait until they developed symptoms before seeking medical attention.
“Our message today remains simple: please do not wait until you feel sick before you pay attention to your health,” she said.
Giving an insight into the impact of the foundation’s 2025 screening programme, Amosun disclosed that more than 600 women benefited from the exercise, with 22 found to have breast-related conditions requiring further investigation and medical attention.
She said the foundation subsequently supported the affected women with necessary investigations and treatment.
According to her, 11 women diagnosed with suspicious breast lumps underwent free lumpectomy surgeries in November 2025, while the foundation also supported their post-operative care.
“For me, this is the real meaning of this initiative. We did not only identify a problem and leave the patient to face the consequences alone. Rather, we did our best to ensure that the affected women receive the appropriate medical attention and support,” she said.
Amosun said the foundation’s cancer-care interventions had also included awareness campaigns, screening exercises and support for the development and equipping of cancer-care facilities to improve access to cancer-related services.
She urged beneficiaries of the 2026 programme to become ambassadors of preventive healthcare by taking the message of early detection to their families and communities.
“I urge all beneficiaries to serve as torchbearers; taking this knowledge back to your families and communities to enlighten those who could not attend. By sharing what you learn, you will extend the impact far beyond this hall,” she said.
Amosun added that a cancer diagnosis should not automatically be regarded as the end of the road, noting that advances in medical care, coupled with early detection, appropriate treatment and proper follow-up, could significantly improve outcomes.
“A cancer diagnosis should not automatically be seen as the end of the road. Advances in medical care and the experiences of many survivors have shown that early detection, appropriate treatment and proper follow-up can make a significant difference,” she said.
She added: “Our responsibility, therefore, is to move from fear to awareness, from silence to conversation, and from late presentation to early action.”
Also speaking, a medical consultant and surgeon at FMC, Dr Ebenezer Nkom, stressed the importance of seeking orthodox medical care and undergoing early clinical evaluation whenever breast abnormalities were noticed.
Nkom cautioned against relying solely on unverified remedies for suspected breast conditions, saying prompt clinical assessment could facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
He urged women to report unusual breast changes to qualified healthcare professionals rather than delay medical attention.
