Cancer: 15 million Persons May Be Affected By 2020

An Oncologist at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Dr. Abidemi Omonisi, has revealed that no fewer than 15 million people may suffer cancer diseases globally in 2020, except concerted actions are taken to avert it.

Speaking, Saturday, in Ado Ekiti during a breast and cervical awareness programme and launch of Ekiti Cancer Registry, which was established  in 2013, Omonisi warned that data from Cancer Registry, as established by the World Health Organisation (WHO), shows prostate cancer is the commonest cancer in male and breast in woman, although men can also suffer breast  cancer.

He said Ekiti State had discovered seven breast cancer cases in men.

The expert also warned that higher incidences are expected in Africa, if concerted efforts are not taken to halt the spread.

He said it was disturbing that many medical workers in rural areas of the state had little or no knowledge of cancers and the essence of the campaign against the killer disease, saying: “This is slowing down the fight against the scourge.”

The event was attended by the Commissioners for Health, Dr. Mojisola Yahaya Kolade, Women Affairs, Mojisola Fafure and the governor’s wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, who distributed breast examination kits to women for early detection.

Delivering a lecture entitled: ‘Burden of Cancer in Ekiti’, Omonisi said cancer was not a new disease, describing it as an age-long illness that had existed for over 2000 years.

He said anatomical analysis on some carcasses that had existed for over 2000 years by experts showed that many of them died of cancers.

Omonisi said: “Cancers easily kill  80 percent of sufferers because they are detected late, facilities for diagnosis are very rare in Africa. But we are a bit comfortable in Ekiti, because Adunni Olayinka Cancer Centre has taken care of that…”

“Out of 53 countries in Africa, only 23, have facilities to treat cancers. Years ago, some patients used to travel from Nigeria to Ghana for treatments.

He urged citizens to be circumspect of their lifestyles. Mrs. Fayemi advised people to abstain from harsh toning creams and soaps, as these could be veritable sources of skin cancer.