We want more women to be confident in their breasts – Salako

…launches Breast Health Fridays

In a significant move to combat breast cancer continuously, Sebeccly Cancer Care has launched an extensive breast cancer awareness and screening programme, “Breast Health Fridays.” This initiative aims to reduce the high number of late-stage breast cancer diagnoses among women.

“As a clinical oncologist, I see many women presenting with breast cancer at stages three and four. Our goal is to ensure early detection at stages one and two,” said Omolola Salako, consultant, clinical oncologist and founder of Sebeccly Cancer Care, during the launch event.

“We want more women to be confident in their breasts. We want them to know what’s normal for them and understand the importance of breast screening.”

Salako emphasized the need for women to be proactive about their breast health. “From age 20, women should perform self-examinations and see a doctor annually for a clinical breast examination as part of their medical checkup. Once they reach 40, a mammogram is essential.”

The “Breast Health Fridays” programme provides discounted breast screening services to help women identify any abnormalities early.

“This initiative is crucial as it offers accessible screening, which can help detect breast cancer at an early stage,” Salako explained.

“Today, abroad, they diagnose maybe 80,000 women with breast cancer because they adhere to pre-screening guidelines and undergo regular mammograms. In Nigeria, many women present with lumps, and it takes about six to 12 months before we know if it is cancer.”

Salako stressed the importance of creating a culture where women are not afraid to undergo screening, noting that many avoid it due to fear and misinformation. “We want to reverse the stigma and misinformation surrounding breast cancer. Through the Best of Fridays program, we aim to provide continuous advocacy and awareness.”

The programme is set to run for the next five months, offering discounted services every Friday. These services include clinical breast examinations, ultrasounds, and mammograms, depending on the woman’s age and findings.

“We want to ensure that any abnormalities are diagnosed promptly and accurately,” said Salako. “Not every breast abnormality is cancer, and early detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment.”

Sponsorship from various foundations has allowed the program to offer a 50percent discount on services, making them more accessible to women.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to screen more women and reduce the incidence of late-stage breast cancer diagnoses. “Our flagship program, Time to Screen, has reached over 30,000 women for breast and cervical screening,” Salako noted. “No other NGO has screened as many women in Nigeria.”

The Breast Health Fridays program is an expansion of this effort, dedicated exclusively to breast screening services. With centers offering mammograms on both the island and mainland, the program aims to cater to women across Lagos. “We have the infrastructure to provide these services and are scaling up to reach even more women,” said Salako.

Representing the supporting foundation, Omoye Oriaghan, team lead for branding and communication, spoke on behalf of Osayi Alile, CEO of the ACT Foundation. She emphasized their commitment to addressing societal issues, including breast cancer.

“We partner with organisations to provide screenings and educate women on breast cancer. This year, we aim to screen 10,000 women and subsidize the cost for 1,000,” she said. “Our goal is to make these services affordable for the average woman.”

Omoye also highlighted the challenges in raising awareness about breast cancer in rural communities. “Many women are unaware of breast cancer symptoms or are too afraid to get screened. It is crucial to educate them that early detection can save lives.”

By partnering and providing capacity building and funding, the foundation aims to support ongoing efforts to combat breast cancer in Nigeria. Through these collaborative efforts, the hope is to increase early detection rates and ultimately save more lives.