BREAST Without Spot (BWS), in partnership with COMPSSA, Federal College of Education (FCE), Akoka, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Yaba College of Technology presented a 75- minute movie titled: “A Day Without Cancer” at UNILAG Multipurpose Hall C, Akoka, Lagos and a seminar to create awareness on cancer, to mark this year’s World Cancer Day themed: “Not Beyond US” on Wednesday. 

  The movie was produced by Princess Margret Cancer Foundation in Canada and it emphasized the story of four cancer survivors.  

   The movie is about early cancer detection, experiences of cancer survivors and the people that their family members have died of the disease. 

   One of the participants of the programme, the Students’ Union President at UNILAG College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Folashade Anthony Oluwagbemiga said that the Students’ Union is saddled with the responsibility of catering for the welfare of the students and defending their interests. “And that is part of the reasons why we are here,” he declared. 

   He said that they also encourage organisations like BWS to create and improve the awareness of the students about cancer and other forms of debilitating diseases people don’t really focus on.           Talking about cancer, we want people to be conscious of how it starts and how it progresses.” 

    Oluwagbemiga said the programme would empower the people on how to take personal precautions to prevent cancer.

 “I believe the government has its own roles to play in ensuring that this disease is combated.”

 He, however, advised the youths not to depend on the government alone in combating cancer. 

  “What I believe the government can do is to empower organisations like BWS to organize seminars like this, and to create more awareness through the media and the schools curriculum,” he noted.

    A graduate of Physiotherapy from the University of Lagos who is also a staff of UNILAG FM, Kemi Olawoye said 

BWS is not only creating awareness about breast cancer but other non-communicable diseases.

   She said: “The basic aim is just to adopt lifestyle changes that will help people to prevent and reduce the risks of getting cancer in future.”

 She urged people to take healthy diets. “You must ensure that you eat before 7 pm. You must ensure that you take food with low calories and cholesterol. Do not live a sedentary lifestyle. Eat at least four hours before going to sleep. I make sure that I eat before leaving my house to work, so I don’t have to buy Gala or chocolates,” she said.

  She urged people to eat fruits whenever they come back home. “Even if you alter, try and continue with your healthy lifestyle.”

  She added that smoking has been found to increase the risks of lung cancer.

   A 400-level student of Pharmacology at UNILAG, Miss Nkwocha Uchechi said awareness can actually go a long way in preventing people from having cancer.

  She reiterated the fact that cancer can happen to people of both sexes. “Some men think that they can’t have cancer, they think it is only for women. Cancer is when you have an abnormal growth of cells in your body. It can lead to death.”

  She said early diagnosis can go a long way in preventing deaths and can help to cure cancer patients.

 “I saw a five-year-old with leukemia in the movie; it is so sad.” 

   The National Project Manager of BWS, Miss Funmilola James said the World Cancer Day is recognized all over the world as a day to raise awareness about cancer. 

   “BWS is using it to create awareness of cancer among Nigerian youths, specifically students. We are bringing together these young students to educate them about how they can lead healthy lifestyles, what they should eat or drink in order to prevent cancer,” James said.

  She also urged the youths to avoid excessive alcohol consumption. “Do not smoke. Be physically active, avoid fats around your tummies and eating late. Eat enough vegetables and fruits.” 

      She said BWS is helping to change the lifestyles of people. 

“People now drink water instead of soft drink because they know that soft drink  is not good for them based on the information we gave them.”

   CEO, SULCATA ENT, Oraka Nnamelu described the video on cancer as a broad one. “We have seen it from the angle of the medical doctors who are fighting hard to bring cure or solution for cancer and also from the affected patients.”

 He reasoned that government ought to invest a lot of money in cancer. “Like I learnt today, the only parts of the body that are not prone to cancer are the teeth and the nails.  Today, I also learnt that it is not just people that smoke that are can have lung cancer. There are also secondary smokers. People that inhale what the smokers puff out.”

  The first runner-up of Miss UNILAG 2014, a 400-level student of Business Administration, Nkemadu Adaobi, lamented that many people lose their lives to cancer every year. “Early detection could go a long way to prevent cancer.”

    She said healthy lifestyle is very important. “Most of us don’t take our health seriously. We think it is just about waking up in the morning, just to eat, look for money and all of that. Even in the movie, they say 30 minutes of strolling could add seven extra years to your life. I give kudos to BWS. I have no regret coming here or participating.” 

   Manager of Miss UNILAG, Shem Kadir said cancer is a very serious issue, but some people do not take it seriously. “Some people do not know that the body cream they use can cause cancer. It is possible to detect cancer early but because people do not know, they just end up living with it until it gets to an extent that it is too late to do anything about it. I have learnt that cancer is not a death sentence. It is curable and people should not stigmatize those who have it. It does not also have age restrictions,  ”she said.