Janet Ogundepo An emeritus professor of radiology, Ifeoma Okoye, has identified a mindset she termed the “It’s not my portion” syndrome as a major factor preventing many Nigerians from undergoing cancer screening early. She explained that this syndrome arises from religious beliefs, ignorance about cancer, and a strong rejection and denial of having cancer. Consequently, the Director of the University of Nigeria, Centre for Clinical Trials, Nsukka, Enugu State, stated that this syndrome is causing late hospital presentations and driving high mortality and morbidity rates for cancer patients.
Okoye made these remarks during the first series of the 2024 Health and Business Series themed, “Cancer ‘challenge’ and health screening hesitancy among Nigerians,” organised by Prime Business Africa Publisher, Marcel Mbamalu, on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday evening. According to a medical blog, MedicalNewsToday, cancer is the uncontrolled development of cells that can affect various parts of the body, leading to tumours and damaging the immune system. The World Health Organisation says cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for about 10 million deaths in 2020.
Breast, lung, colon, rectum and prostate cancers are the most common cancers. The health agency further notes that a sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, excessive weight, and cancer-causing infections such as human papillomavirus were responsible.