Patients suffering from breast cancer have continued to increase in Kano, with a minimum of 100 seeing a doctor weekly in the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).
Sadly, the patients include both the elderly and younger ones, according to the Head the Oncology in the hospital, Dr. Muhammad Inuwa Mustapha.
Dr. Inuwa disclosed this in the commemoration of this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM).
NBCAM is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.
It also provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to review progress, reflect and renew commitments in tackling the disease and to build momentum to address the existing disparities and challenges in access to breast cancer care.
According to the World Health Organization WHO, Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally with around 2.3 million new cases every year.
It represents one in eight cancer cases in both sexes and a quarter of all cancers in women with 70% mortality occurring in resource-constrained settings.
This year’s theme is: No one should face breast cancer alone.
Dr. Inuwa expressed dismay that “breast cancer is on the rise in the State due to an increase in unhealthy diet, age, tobacco and use”.
Dr Inuwa further identifies “alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, air pollution and other non-communicable diseases” as other risk factors.
Dr. Inuwa also identifies late presentation by patients as a major challenge. He stressed that “cancer can only be cured if patients present themselves early”.
Also speaking, a Surgeon in AKTH, Dr Abubakar Bala Muhammad Gwarzo stressed the need for early diagnosis, saying once a patient presents late cancer cannot be cured.
Speaking further on the challenges, Dr. Gwarzo stressed the need to provide adequate equipment, just as he “advocates to subsidize cancer treatments” due to their expensive nature.
Rahama Hamza Sani, a resident of Kano has been a survivor of cancer for 20 years now after she diagnosed the cancer early and got treatment.
Rahama revealed that “cancer is like any other disease if dictated early”. She stressed the need for early screening to end cancer for good.
