There is an unreasonable rise of Breast cancer in Nigeria, that every day should be a day to raise awareness to save another woman from the harsh disease.
Care Organization Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E), knows this well and has spent years since it was founded in 1995, in creating awareness about breast cancer, and raising a happy and enabling community for survivors.
This year, in celebration of the breast cancer awareness month, members of C.O.P.E took to the streets of Victoria Island, Lagos, to walk in their pink shirts, enlightening people about cancer and how deadly the disease is. After walking for almost an hour, over 30 survivors of breast cancer were treated to a spa experience at B Natural spa also in Victoria Island, a spa that has consistently supported and collaboration with C.O.P.E to ensure that these warriors enjoy their second chance at life. The spa experience includes a full-on Spa treatment of steaming, body massage, pedicure and manicure which according to the founder of C.O.P.E, Mrs Ebunola Anozie, is a necessary experience for every cancer survivor, to help their body work perfectly after the treatment it has been through.
According to her, “Pleasurable treats like this for the body is the complementary therapy every cancer survivor should indulge in. It’s International breast cancer awareness month and we’re using this day to treat ourselves, have a steamed bath, massage, pedicure and manicure.
It is a way of spoiling ourselves; but also, called complementary therapy. Once you go through treatment; surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, it’s very important that when you’re healed, that you have these kinds of therapy to ease all the joints, and make sure that your body is fit”.
She spoke further on the need to improve our health system in Nigeria for cancer patients “Our healthcare system is in shambles, and we need to improve on it. When we talk of a comprehensive cancer centre, we don’t have it and most of us travel outside the country and see what a comprehensive cancer centre looks like. We probably just have a system where we’re alleviating quite a lot of people who have cancer but, we need a standard one in all the six geo-political zones. And it’s achievable, because Nigeria is blessed and we just have to use it wisely.”
Mrs Kehinde Agbilete, Vice President of C.O.P.E who has been a breast cancer survivor for over 20 years, stressed on the importance of early detection. “It is a proven fact that if you catch your breast cancer on time, the chances of survival is way much better. So we are encouraging preventive as against curative method. This is important this month as October is Breast cancer awareness month.”
On how far Nigeria has gone in tge treatment of cancer, Mrs Kehinde says: “I will say we have significantly improved. Being a breast cancer survivor of over 20 years, I’ve seen the country change. There are quite a number of good specialist centres, but a lot still has to be done; making sure the equipment is working perfectly for the radiotherapy at the hospitals.
I’d like to see something like a private-government partnership, where women can access treatment on time. As we speak, the length of time we access treatment is still very low, and this can be solved by public enlightenment, which is what C.O.P.E is doing because people who don’t know cancer cannot detect it. The beauty of having a community that understands one cannot be overemphasized. C.O.P.E provides that for these survivors, coupled with a day like this to pamper themselves, and feel just like they always should, alive! That community of survivors live every day knowing and understanding the warrior that they are, coming together on a day like this, to let go and be free, knowing that the other person is just like them.
Sharing her spa experience, Philamonia Anumudu, a breast cancer survivor says: “when we were in the steam room, we were four, it was an opportunity to encourage one another again, and to pray and reaffirm the word of God over our lives. Seeing us sitting down and talking, I just felt, this is somebody that understands what you’ve gone through, what you’re going through and where you are, and that calmed me and made me hopeful. One funny thing is that when we talked, we all have different stories but if you listen properly, they’re all interconnected.”
To Adebukolami Adewale who is another survivor “This is just an opportunity to be with my “sis” which is what we call ourselves. It’s an opportunity to make ourselves happy and feel relaxed. It is a great opportunity that makes me feel hopeful to be alive”.
The importance of a community such as that provided by C.O.P.E. was further emphasized by London- based Nigerian Cancer survivor and activist, Dolapo Ogunleye who revealed her need to talk to someone like her, made her open up when she was diagnosed with cancer. “It’s good to support each other. It’s not good to be on your own while going through cancer because I was own my own going through cancer. It’s good for us to come out and share our loneliness, worries, fears, and hopes. All these, are just to be with each other and encourage ourselves. So it was an inspiration for me when I came to Nigeria, and I saw many people coming out. It’s sad that people still see cancer as a stigma and a cultural thing. It has nothing to do with culture. Once you’ve had cancer you’ve had cancer: but the good news is, you can live after cancer because it doesn’t have to be a death sentence. People need to come out and seek help. It’s a disease, it can be cured if it’s detected early.
And people need to start spreading the word that there is a support group that can help you through this journey, rather than hiding in shame”.
For the CEO of B-Natural, Pamela Bello Olatunji, being a part of this initiative is an honour and gives her a purpose to the work she’s doing. She encourages people to also support any cause that helps cancer patients and survivor as anyone can be unfortunate to be at the other end in future. “This is amazing and the sad part is, it could be anybody. You can wake up this month and think you’re cancer-free; but the next minute, you’re not sure of what the diagnosis will be tomorrow. So anything anyone can do to help people who have unfortunately gotten their own diagnosis, they should. And I applaud C.O.P.E for being consistent in giving hope to people who have this sad news to live with, and make others who will sadly get their bad news that there is a place dedicated to seeing them happy. I’m honoured and grateful to God to be able to help in whatever capacity I can, and glad that my business can find a way to give these women the opportunity to treat themselves right and be happy.”
The event also saw the distribution of donated prostrate bras to some of the survivors.
First published in Vanguard Allure by Linda Orajekwe
