Olufunso Amosun, wife of former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has urged women to embrace regular cancer screening, saying the disease, though a serious health challenge, should not be regarded as a death sentence.

Amosun spoke on Wednesday at the flag-off of the 2026 free breast and cervical cancer screening organised at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta.

She said the annual exercise was not limited to routine medical checks but was designed to provide timely access to healthcare and lifesaving interventions for women.

Amosun, who highlighted global and local cancer statistics, said breast cancer incidence in Nigeria had risen significantly over the past three decades.

Citing data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022, she said Nigeria recorded 32,278 new cases of breast cancer and 16,332 deaths, giving the country the highest burden on the continent.

She stressed the importance of early detection in reducing cancer-related deaths, noting that patients diagnosed at an early stage had survival rates of more than 90 per cent, compared with less than 30 per cent for those presenting at an advanced stage.

Reflecting on the 2025 edition of the screening programme, Amosun said more than 600 women benefited from the exercise, while 22 participants were identified with breast-related conditions.

She said 11 women diagnosed with suspicious breast lumps subsequently underwent free lumpectomy surgeries and post-operative care, funded by the foundation in November 2025.

“Since inception in 2012, the UPLIFT Development Foundation has focused on cancer awareness, screening, and equipping local care facilities, alongside broader humanitarian efforts targeting women, widows, and vulnerable groups across Ogun State,” she said.

Amosun urged women participating in the latest screening exercise to make preventive healthcare a priority and overcome the fear often associated with cancer diagnosis.

She also encouraged beneficiaries to share information about cancer prevention and early detection with members of their families and communities.

A medical consultant and surgeon at FMC, Ebenezer Nkom, also advised women against relying on native remedies  for suspected cancer cases.

Nkom emphasised the importance of early clinical assessment and treatment, saying prompt detection and appropriate medical care could help reduce cancer-related deaths.