The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on Tuesday said that 80% of cancer cases in Nigeria are curable.
Adewole went further to reveal that the Ministry’s database showed that 50% of corpses flown into the country involved cancer-related deaths.
Speaking at a symposium tagged: “Cancer in Nigeria,” organised by the Ministry in collaboration with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, the Minister explained that 40% of cancer can be prevented with healthy lifestyle, while another 40% if detected early can be cured.
“For us in the developing world for many years, the emphasis has been on communicable diseases, infections and so on, but as we begin to change our lifestyle.
“By eating westernised food, living a sedentary life, smoking, either primarily or secondarily, we are bound to face cancer as a challenge,” he said.
Adewole added that when cancers were detected early, they can be cured.
Most cancers aside from breast cancer, can be removed either by drugs, radiotherapy or surgeries.
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