Breast Cancer: Parker Advises On Precautionary Measures

An advise has been given
to the people of Rivers State on precautionary measures in the control of cancer diseases.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tamunoiyoriari Parker, gave this Advise at an event to rasie awareness for Breast Cancer organised by Elpis Sapphire Foundation (ESP) and Preventive Healthcare Initiative (PHI) together with the Rivers State Ministry of Health in Port Harcourt.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Cancer Control Desk Officer, Ministry of Health, Rivers State, Dr Odokuma Smith, encouraged women to take precautionary measures against the disease, which he said was among the highest killer of women.
Dr Parker advised women to regularly carryout self-breast examination and promptly report any irregularity in the size, colour and shape of the breast to a competent medical expert for proper diagnosis.
He noted that everyone, male or female was predisposed to having breast cancer and added that all hands msut be on deck to fight against the disease.
In his speech, Managing Director PH1, Prof B. Gbanador, defined cancer as a group of disease characterised by uncontrolled and abnormal growth of cells, saying the challenges of the disease in Nigeria is our attitudes and myth lack of awareness, poverty, lack of potentially curative therapy, lack of access and ability to deliver.
However, he said breast cancer is preventable and we must prevent it using (LUCIE) Let Us Catch It Early.
He stressed that World Health Organisation (WHO) recorded that 1.2million women are infected by beast cancer annually.
Gbanador said nipple discharge, pains, change in colour, lump are symptoms of breast cancer, maintaining that we must observe self examination on monthly basis.
Finally, he charged all to be very sensitive by reporting cases with these symptoms to the physicians in order to overcome the dreaded disease adding that the risk factors of breast cancer are smoking alcohol, age and gender and to be beast cancer free we must abstain from the above habits.
Prof Iyeopu Siminia Layi said, “we must put on a life style of eating proteinous food like beans, egg, fish fruits and vegetable, to prevent the occurrence of breast cancer.”
He stressed that junks food that lacks nutrient is an agent of breast cancer, adding that people who consume much fruits and vegetable containing vitamin C are not quickly influenced by the disease.
He said to “Think Pink Live Green,” as the central theme of the symposium, we should drink much volume of water, coffee and healthy oil for effective body functions.
According to him, exercise also helps to reduce obesity from the body system and gives you physical fitness which eradicates the disease from the body because much fats had been washed by exercise.

Tonye Nria-Dappa/Kinanwi Highman