Cosmetics,Abortion Trigger Cancer-Experts

With more women being diagnosed of
breast cancer disease, oncologists, who
specialise in the treatment of tumour and
cancer, acknowledged the danger to
women, stressing that young women are
becoming victims of breast cancer due to
ignorance, abortion, exposure to
cosmetics, consumption of dangerous
chemicals in junk food and unhealthy
lifestyle.
With the percentage of cancer
patients now on the high, the
specialists in the field opined
that poverty, high cost of
treatment, lack of medical facilities and
personnel are making matter worse for
victims, calling on the government to
acquire modern medical facilities for its
hospitals and to subsidise the cost of
treatment of the disease.
Head, Oncology and Radiotherapy
Department, Lagos University Teaching
Hospital, Prof. Remi Ajekigbe, said breast
cancer is on the increase due to lack of
awareness about the disease among
women and poor diet.
"Awareness is a major factor responsible
for the increase in breast cancer cases. A
lot of women are not educated on the
disease, so even when the signs and
symptoms are present, they can hardly
notice them. Awareness campaign on the
disease will help early detection and
treatment," Ajekigbe said, adding that
population increase could be responsible
for the wide spread of the disease.
"Twenty years ago, Nigeria population's
was not what it is today; population
increase could increase the spread of
diseases including breast cancer.
"Increased population could affect the
social life of the people. The social factor is
crucial because we tend to imbibe a
number of habits that are detrimental to
our health. For instance, smoking and poor
diet are factors that have increased the
cases of breast cancer. We eat a lot of
chemicals, especially our younger ones.
Those processed junks are not good for
health. Its accumulation over a period of
time could lead to various types of cancer.
Cosmetics used to enhance beauty also
have concentrated chemicals that could
become cancerous when they enter the
body system. Skin beauty products make
women look good and attractive but they
could have negative effect later in life.
Perfumes also could increase the risk as
some of them are also cancerous," Ajekigbe
said.
The oncologist also explained that the
facilities available for the treatment of the
disease are not adequate, pointing out that
epileptic supply of electricity in the country
contribute to the high cost of treatment of
the disease.
Speaking further on the disease, Ajekigbe
said early detection reduced difficulties
experienced in its treatment.
"A lot of prominent people died of breast
cancer because it was'nt detected at the
advanced stage. Self breast examination is
the key to early detection of the disease.
Every woman should understand the
simple test to detect cancer in the breasts,"
he advised.
Another cancer specialist at the Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr.
Abiodun Popoola, said abortion in the first
three months of pregnancy increased a
woman's risk of having breast cancer.
"Towards the end of the first trimester, the
hormone balance in the woman's body
changes, the oestrogen levels drop and the
levels of others rise. Differentiation and
maturation begins and continues until the
child is born.
"But when an abortion occurs at the early
stages, this process is suddenly cut short
and this greatly increases the risk of that
woman or lady having breast cancer. Sadly,
90 per cent of abortions are done at this
stage. It however varies in different
women," he said.
When our correspondent visited some
breast cancer clinics in Lagos State, patients
narrated tales of pains and frustration. Mrs.
Kehinde Olabisi, who is battling with the
disease, told our correspondent who was
with her during one of her chemotherapy
sessions at the Lagos University Teaching
Hospital, Ikeja, that she would have
committed suicide but for her husband
support. Olabisi who is in her early 40s
said she was diagnosed with the disease in
2011, lamenting the loss of one of her
breasts and inability to function fully as a
wife.
Olabisi said, "You do not want to imagine
the psychological trauma of living with just
one breast. A lot of women would prefer to
die with the cancer than to lose a breast.
But since losing a breast was the only way
to save my life, I had to accept it. I have
been battling with this illness since 2011, I
removed the lumps first to delay cutting
off the breast but it did not work so they
removed it three months ago. I have not
recovered from the experience.
"Breast cancer is a dangerous disease
affecting women because it drains them
physically, financially, psychologically and
emotionally. You no longer feel good about
yourself it is like you have no self worth
anymore," a tearful Olabisi said.
Olabisi, who was in the hospital with her
husband, added that the doctors warned
that chemotherapy treatment after surgery
was crucial to full recovery.
"Chemotherapy is a difficult process that
involves endurance. It would scrape off all
the hair on the victim's body. After my first
experience, I woke up and saw my hair
falling off on the pillow. It took away my
appetite and I became allergic to perfume. I
had sores on my body and this is how I
feel every time. But I thank God for my
husband who has stood by me. I could not
have got this far without him."
But the road to recovery has been a
demanding one. To pay the bill, Olabisi and
her husband sold a house and took N4m
bank loan to pay for treatment.
She said, "Victims of breast cancer need
lo

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