A Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist, Dr Bolaji Salako, says regular screening and prompt diagnosis can help in the early detection of cancer to save more lives.
Salako, of the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Ibadan.
He spoke against the backdrop of the World Cancer Day tagged: “Close the Care Gap” slated for February 4.
On February 4 every year, the global cancer community commemorates World Cancer Day to inspire greater awareness of cancer and action to better prevent, detect and treat the disease.
WCD 2022 marks the first year of a new three-year campaign centred on the issue of equity. The 2022 campaign raises awareness about the lack of equity in cancer care.
According to Salako, cancer is a global epidemic that affects people of all races and social standing.
The expert said that early diagnosis of cancer raises one’s chances of survival.
“Although cancer awareness has increased in the last decade, till the moment, many people are still often unaware that regular screening and prompt diagnosis can help to curb cancer complications,” he said.
Salako said that while COVID-19 affected cancer treatment and care, the FMC still recorded about 350 new cancer cases in the previous year.
He, therefore, called on stakeholders for deliberate actions to reduce the impact of cancer on individuals and communities.
“Although, there has been increased awareness about cancer, more still needed to be done, especially in the test for early detection and diagnosis.
“Early detection and diagnosis of cancer impact treatment outcomes and survival.
“As a department, we are targeting our community through the mass media for increased awareness and public sensitisation.
“The hospital under the leadership of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Adewale Olomu, has been committed to providing greater access to diagnostic and treatment services to cancer patients who throng the hospital.
“It is highly commendable and has motivated us to do more,” he said.
NAN reports that cancer is a disease wherein the cells tend to grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.
The Global Cancer Observatory in its March 2021 report revealed that Nigeria recorded a total number of 124,815 new cases with 78, 899 deaths in 2020.
The report also stated that breast, prostate and cervical cancers were the top three most frequent cancers in the country.
(NAN)
