By Asmau Ahmad
An Abuja-based Physician, Dr. Calistus Aguguwa, has advised Nigerians to embrace early and regular cancer screening and testing to curb increasing cases of cancer related deaths.
Dr. Aguguwa who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said that cancer can be treated if detected early.
He said: “Cancer is treatable and can be managed if detected early. Smoking of cigarettes, excessive drinking, excessive exposure to rays and radiation are risk factors to cancer diseases. Third degree relation who died of cancer or has had it is also a factor to look out for.”
Aguguwa advised women to conduct self-breast examination, as preventive measure against the disease.
According to him, those who have attained the age of 40 and above must go for prostate cancer screening and testing.
He said that chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery were some of the ways of caring for cancer patients, adding that free screening facility is another way of combating cancer.
“People should always go to the hospital for medical check-up; awareness is necessary, you don’t have to fall sick before you go to the hospital because early detection is key. The Federal Ministry of Health, has provided healthcare centres for the screening of cervical, breast and prostate cancer.
“The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has provided a screening process in a low rate to encourage people to go for cancer screening. There is hope for people that have cancer, they should also teach their relatives how to look after themselves,” he said.
Aguguwa expressed concern that prostate, cervical and breast cancers were spreading in Nigeria, saying that about 60 per cent of cancers affected mostly women.
