Former First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has urged women to prioritise early detection and regular medical screening, stressing that cancer, despite being a serious health challenge, should not be regarded as a death sentence.
She described preventive healthcare as an important step towards reducing the burden of cancer in society.
Amosun made the call on Wednesday at the flag-off of the 2026 free breast and cervical cancer screening programme organised at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta.
The annual initiative, supported by the UPLIFT Development Foundation, is aimed at providing women with access to screening, early diagnosis and timely medical intervention.
Speaking at the event, Amosun said the exercise went beyond routine medical checks, describing it as an intervention designed to provide lifesaving healthcare services to women, particularly those who might otherwise be unable to afford such services.
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She said the growing incidence of cancer in Nigeria made regular screening and early detection imperative, noting that breast cancer had become a major public health concern in the country.
The former first lady expressed concern that breast cancer incidence in Nigeria had increased by nearly 300 per cent over the past three decades.
Mrs Amosun cited figures from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022, that Nigeria recorded 32,278 new cases of breast cancer and 16,332 deaths, making the country the highest-burden nation on the continent in terms of breast cancer cases.
Amosun, however, stressed that the statistics should not create fear among women, but rather encourage them to take proactive steps towards protecting their health.
She maintained that early detection remained one of the most effective ways of reducing cancer-related deaths, explaining that patients diagnosed at an early stage had survival rates exceeding 90 per cent, compared with less than 30 per cent among those presenting at advanced stages.
She said, “Cancer is a serious health challenge, but it is not a death sentence. What is important is early detection, proper medical attention and timely intervention.”
Mrs Amosun explained that more than 600 women benefitted from the 2025 edition of the programme,while 22 women were identified with breast-related abnormalities requiring further medical attention.
She explained that 11 of the women who were diagnosed with suspicious breast lumps subsequently underwent free lumpectomy surgeries and post-operative care.
Amosun said the development demonstrated the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that screening did not end with the identification of health problems but was followed by appropriate medical intervention.
She urged the beneficiaries of the 2026 screening programme to take advantage of the opportunity to check their system for healthy living.
Also speaking, a Medical Consultant and Surgeon at FMC, Abeokuta, Dr Ebenezer Nkom, cautioned women against relying on native remedies in managing suspected cancer cases.
Nkom emphasised the importance of seeking professional medical attention whenever symptoms or abnormalities were detected, noting that early clinical assessment and appropriate treatment could prevent avoidable deaths.