2021 World Cancer Day: Expert urges Nigerians to embrace healthy life style
A Consultant Pathologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos, Dr Omobolade Obadofin on Thursday urged Nigerians to embrace healthy lifestyle to mitigate cancer risk factors.
Obadofin said that unhealthy lifestyle contributed to the risk factors associated with cancer such as smoking, bad diet, sedentary lifestyle among others.
The World Cancer Day is commemorated every February 4 to create awareness about the causes, prevention and care of cancer.
Cancer is the abnormal proliferation of cells in the body which occurs when a particular cell in any part of the body gets out of control.
“There is no single thing that causes cancer, apart from cervical cancer which is cause by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
“What results in cancer is the interaction of many different factors which makes it multi-factorial and also referred to as risk factors.
“One of this risk factors is smoking which releases toxins into the body and it is the number one risk factor because lung cancer is the commonest and number one killer cancer.
“Our diet here in Africa has been westernised, people now prefer fast food that also contribute to the risk factors of caner.
“People no longer eat the pure African diet that is rich in vitamins, fibre and minerals which boost our immune system.
“Sedentary lifestyle, exposure to sun and viruses such as HPV are all risk factors of cancer,” she said.
Obadofin, who is also the Head of Pathlogy Department at the hospital, noted that cervical cancer was the second commonest cancer in the country, especially among women.
She called for more advocacy to ensure early detection of cancer, especially cervical cancer that had been elucidate by scientists and pathologists.
“Early detection of cancer is the key after prevention because it saves life; people must pay attention to their body and do the needful when they noticed any changes.
“Cervical cancer has been elucidated by scientists and researchers have shown that it is caused by HPV which also has different strains.
“There is vaccine for HPV and people should get tested to know their status also,” she said.
On how COVID-19 has affected accessibility of care for cancer patients, Obadofin said the pandemic had affected the health seeking behaviour of patients.
She advised cancer patients to go for care when needed to enhance their health.
“During the lockdown, a lot of people died at home not because they had COVID-19 but died from other illness because they were unable or afraid to seek care.
“Go out and seek for medical care when it is necessary rather than presenting late to the hospital,” Obadofin said.
