HEALTH: Be Breast Cancer Conscious, Osun Health Commissioner Enjoins Women

Staff October 23, 2013

In line with activities to mark this year’s World Breast Cancer Day, the Government of the State of Osun under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola,  on Monday flagged-off a sensitization program, to raise the awareness of the public, on the risk of breast cancer.
The exercise sought to enlighten the people, especially women, on the need for them to always be breast cancer conscious. The event  started with a sensitization rally, from the Government Annex to Freedom Park and from the Freedom Park to Olaiya Junction in Osogbo, the state capital.
Commissioner for Health, State of Osun, Dr. Mrs Temitope  Ilori  described the dreaded disease  as  a tumor , ”a mass of abnormal tissue’’ if unchecked has the ability to spread to different areas of the body.
Explaining why the state government embarked on such sensitization, the Health Commissioner said about 95 percent  of women who develop breast cancer have no previous knowledge of its risk factors, and there is need to sensitize them on the danger of the disease.
According to Ilori, the symptoms of breast cancer can either be a change in shape or size of the breast, swelling of the upper arm or armpit, and discharge from the breast among others’’ she said.
The commissioner stressed the need for Self Breast Examination (SBE) among women to recognize any changes in their breast for quick medical attention.
She said, the state government of Osun in partnership with the Tumor Suppressors Maternal Organization (TSMO), have made necessary arrangements with victims of breast cancers to have access to adequate treatment.
Also, she advised breast cancer patients to visit Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital(LAUTECH), Osogbo, Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, Jaleyemi and Hamstring Specialist Hospital/ Diagnostic Centre in Osogbo, for counseling and necessary measures.
Ilori, however, charged women in Osun to always visit state government hospitals, for early discovery of cancer symptoms, as prevention is better than cure.
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