Breast cancer doubly ranks highest in both annual new cancer cases and total deaths resulting from cancers. Nearly 15,000 women die annually from breast cancer in Nigeria.
While survival from breast cancer is good in developed nations, the opposite is the case in Africa, especially Nigeria (the estimated 5 year survival rate is 32% in Sub-Saharan Africa as opposed to 81% in the US).
Perhaps most frightening is the fact that the incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate, rising from 3rd commonest cancer to the most common cancer in Nigeria in both sexes currently.
Most women with breast cancer present to the hospitals when the disease is in its late stages. This is the most important prognostic factor. We identified some factors to why they present late and they include:
Late identification of the disease
Ignorance of what the changes are
Presentation to alternative medicine practitioners
Poverty and lack of health insurance
Program Goals
To educate 2000 young girls aged 14-19 on self-breast examination within the next one year(2021-2022).
To educate at least 50,000 girls aged 14-19 on self-breast examination within the next 10 years.
To build an active online and offline community of young women who are aware of breast cancer and prevention of its modifiable risk factors.
Taught breast self-examination (BSE)
Projects
Linked to Care
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