By CONFIDENCE NWANESI and KEMI AKINTOKUN

A Consultant Oncologist, Dr Ajibike Orekoya, on Tuesday advised Nigerians to adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of having cancer.

Orekoya, the Head of Oncology Unit at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, gave the advice at a programme organised by the hospital to commemorate the 2025 World Cancer Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Cancer Day is observed every Feb. 4 globally, to create awareness about the disease.

The theme for 2025 Is “United by Unique”.

According to her, breast and prostate cancers are the most common among women and men in the country, hence the need for regular checkup to ensure early detection.

The oncologist noted that women who started menstruation earlier were at s risk of having cancer, while women with family history were also at risk.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and leading cause of cancer deaths among women in low and middle-income countries.

“The World Cancer Day has been set aside globally to create awareness about different things concerning cancer care.

“The most common cancers in Nigeria among women and men are breast and prostate cancer.

“Breast cancer doesn’t have a known cause but there are different things that may increase the risk of a person having it.

“Women who started menstruation earlier are also at risk of having breast cancer.

“Another risk factor is unhealthy lifestyles, so, there is the need for Nigerians to adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating more vegetables and fruit, exercising, quitting smoking, reduction in oil intake and other,” he said.

Orekoya, however, urged the Federal Government to increase the number of cancer centres in the country to give patients more access to treatment

“The government, on their part, are trying but there’s still more that they can do.

“The government, they have subsidised the treatment for cancer patients, and we all know that cancer treatment is quite expensive.

“Patients who are under the health insurance, part of their treatment is covered:

“There’s also another programme where drugs that patients received are provided to them at a subsidised rate,” he said.

Orekoya urged the government to do more by increasing the number of cancer centres in the country and ensure access to timely treatment.

“Luckily for us here, the Federal Government is building a comprehensive cancer centre where patients will be able to have regenerative treatment, hopefully at a subsidised rate,” he said. (NAN)