Background and Context:Breast Cancer is the commonest cancer affecting Nigerian women. The incidence is on the rise in Nigeria and developed countries; however the survival rates are much higher in developed countries
Aim: Our mission at Sebeccly Cancer Care is to improve breast cancer awareness among women in order to facilitate early detection of breast cancer thereby improving its prognosis, the center every October since 2011 has been dedicated to creating awareness on breast cancer and has also been offering free breast cancer screening to women in Lagos mainland local government area of lagos state.
Strategy/Tactics:The center launched 3 breast help-lines in order to create an open forum/dialogue for women to ask questions about breast cancer; encouraged to visit our centre and neighboring primary health care centers were they are taught the breast cancer screening guidelines appropriate for their age and had a clinical breast examination by a health care professional
Programme/Policy Process: The Center has been able to reach out to a total of 294 callers whose age ranged between 24 and 45 years, a majority being female (97%),72% had tertiary education,52% were married,80% were based in Lagos state and 90% owned a mobile phone. Thirty two breast abnormalities were detected, 2 had a pathologic diagnosis of breast cancer while 30 had benign breast lumps. All patients with breast abnormalities were referred to the surgical outpatient department for further evaluation and treatment. Also, many of these women had little knowledge about breast cancer and did not know where to report to if they had noticed breast mass
Outcomes/What was learned: It is therefore recommended that the ongoing effort aimed at educating the public about breast cancer and breast health issues should be sustained and intensified with efforts made in making our medical facilities more accessible and user friendly.