By Desire Uzochukwu
Cancer survivors deserve more than medical treatment; they also need dignity, confidence, economic support and help to rebuild their lives after treatment, the Bricon Foundation has said.
The foundation, which marked its 10th anniversary, made the call as it donated breast prostheses and mastectomy bras worth N50 million to cancer survivors receiving care at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, and surrounding communities.
The initiative, according to the foundation, is aimed at helping women who have undergone mastectomy regain confidence and improve their quality of life.
Co-founder and trustee of the Bricon Foundation and breast cancer survivor, Mrs Abigail Simon-Hart, said the foundation was established in 2016 to provide comprehensive support for cancer patients and their families.
She said: “A patient is more than just a disease. They have a whole system; they have work, family, friends and a life. So it is about treating the whole patient and supporting survivorship as a whole.
“We don’t just help with treatment. We have an empowerment programme with micro-grants to help patients get back on their feet and restart their businesses.”
Simon-Hart, who said she has survived breast cancer for 12 years, disclosed that 27 cancer patients had received micro-grants to restart their businesses, while 10 others had returned to school.
She added that the foundation runs scholarship programmes for children of cancer patients and a food bank for families struggling to feed.
Beyond patient support, she said Bricon had trained more than 450 doctors and nurses in Nigeria in cancer awareness, end-of-life care and related areas.
“Basically, we are all about how we support the patient from diagnosis until after they finish cancer treatment, because there is life after cancer. I am a living testimony that you can beat cancer. It is 12 years now,” she said.
The breast cancer survivor also urged cancer patients to take ownership of their treatment journey, warning against relying solely on other people’s experiences.
“I always say that somebody else’s testimony is not your treatment plan. You have to take ownership; you have to ask questions and know what medications you are being given,” she said.
On the rising burden of cancer and challenges of accessing care in Nigeria, Simon-Hart called for expanded health insurance coverage, stronger prevention programmes, early detection and increased investment in cancer infrastructure and human resources.
“It is about insurance. It is about prevention, because prevention is a lot cheaper than cure. It is about getting out there and making sure that we get it early enough,” she said.
She warned that expanding cancer diagnosis without simultaneously increasing the number of healthcare professionals and treatment facilities would worsen the burden on patients.
“If you keep on diagnosing and you don’t have the medical personnel or facilities, then you are just creating a pool of people who you can’t help.
“So it is about empowerment of patients, empowerment of doctors and nurses so you can keep them to stay, improving the quality of care by providing the infrastructure that is needed. Investment, investment, investment,” she said.
Explaining the significance of the current donation, Simon-Hart said the foundation would provide breast prostheses for up to 600 women and mastectomy bras for at least 300.
“When you have had your breast removed, you need a bra that fits properly and you need an artificial breast. That is what we are doing here today,” she said.
Also speaking, Co-founder and trustee of the foundation, Dr Niyi Adekeye, said the N50 million donation was made in commemoration of the foundation’s 10th anniversary.
He said the foundation had supported cancer patients through treatment, screening, counselling, education and provision of prostheses over the years.
“Since it is 10 years, we have to do something more significant. So this year, I decided to give bras and prostheses worth N50 million in honour of our 10-year celebration,” Adekeye said.
He called for sustained cancer awareness beyond the annual focus on October, stressing that cancer remains a year-round challenge.
“Cancer is still going on in January and February. So I believe that treatment, awareness and everything should continue throughout the year,” he said.
Adekeye also urged Nigerians to embrace healthier lifestyles, regular exercise and annual medical checks.
“Prevention is always cheaper than cure. Eating habits are very key. Try not to eat a lot of things that are termed carcinogenic. Try to reduce fried foods and generally exercise, no matter how minimal.
“Thirty minutes’ walk a day is more than enough to help you every day. Also, you must do your annual check-up,” he advised.
He said the foundation’s intervention also included economic empowerment, noting that about 27 cancer survivors had been supported to rebuild their livelihoods.
“They are already doing their businesses now and they are doing okay to get back on their feet. So it is empowerment, education, treatment, but also economic support,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, commended the initiative, saying interventions that restore confidence and dignity are critical components of cancer survivorship.
Ogunyemi, who said she previously worked in cancer care, described cancer diagnosis and treatment as psychologically and physically difficult for patients.
“These patients and survivors are fighting for their lives. So anything to make them feel better, respected and treated with empathy is important.”
She explained that mastectomy bras and prostheses could help women regain confidence after losing a breast to cancer.
“These are part of a woman’s femininity and sexuality, and then she has had to cut it off. On top of it, she has had to endure so much to be treated.
“So anything to make them feel good and make them realise that they have done it and saved their lives — they are survivors — is important,” Ogunyemi said.
On cancer care in Lagos, she said the state government was strengthening prevention, health insurance and cancer treatment infrastructure.
According to her, Lagos has made health insurance mandatory for residents seeking to access government health services, while efforts are ongoing to establish another cancer centre because the existing capacity at LASUTH is under pressure.
She said: “Cancer care is expensive. That is why we are encouraging people to have health insurance and to prevent themselves by catching it early.
“If you catch breast cancer early, you are not going to need chemotherapy and all that. It is not just breast cancer, but all the other cancers.”
Ogunyemi also acknowledged shortages of healthcare personnel, saying the government was working to address both infrastructure and manpower gaps.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof Adetokunbo Fabamwo, described the foundation’s intervention as a valuable collaboration that would support patients undergoing cancer treatment at the hospital.
He said LASUTH was also working towards expanding its cancer services, including radiotherapy, to reduce the need for patients to seek treatment elsewhere.
The Bricon Foundation said the anniversary programme would continue with a similar donation in Sagamu, Ogun State, before expanding the initiative to other parts of Nigeria from next year.
