Stakeholders in the health and defence community on Friday reaffirmed that cancer is not a death sentence, stressing that proactive screening and timely access to care are critical to survival.
They spoke at a World Cancer Day lecture and pre-cancer screening programme organised by the National Defence College Officers’ Wives Association (NDCOWA) in Abuja.
The event brought together medical experts, researchers and traditional health practitioners, with the aim of bridging gaps in cancer awareness, prevention and care.
Free cancer screening was also provided for participants, members of the college community and their families at the NDC Medical Centre.
In his remarks, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, said the programme was deliberately designed to harmonise orthodox and traditional medical perspectives on cancer prevention and treatment.
Ahmed noted that misconceptions about an alleged conflict between the two approaches had often hindered effective care.
According to him, the engagement provided a vital platform to dispel myths, promote prevention and reinforce the message that cancer, when detected early, can be treated and survived.
“There is really no conflict. We brought both sides together to reconcile the two schools of thought and focus on what truly matters — saving lives,” he said.
“The key takeaway is that cancer is not a death sentence. Remedies exist, especially when action is taken early.”
Delivering a lecture titled Common Cancers: Awareness, Screening and Prevention, Dr Lilian Obi, a Consultant Family Physician at the College, said awareness, screening and prevention were critical to reversing the rising cancer-related deaths in Nigeria.
She urged Nigerians to seek prompt medical attention for unexplained symptoms and to embrace age-appropriate annual screening.
“Cancer is not a death sentence. Early detection significantly improves survival.
Men and women should present early and go for regular screening,” Obi said.
She also called for evidence-based practice in both orthodox and traditional medicine, stressing that saving lives must remain the common goal.
“Whether orthodox or traditional, there must be proof. Evidence saves lives,” she added.
From a research and policy perspective, guest speaker Engr. Limusa Audu, a herbal consultant, said collaboration between modern medicine and credible traditional practice could improve outcomes, but warned against unregulated practitioners.
“The challenge is that many who parade themselves as herbalists are quacks. Proper sanitisation and regulation are necessary so knowledge can be shared and lives saved,” he said.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of NDCOWA, Hajiya Hauwa Ahmed, urged women and the general public to overcome fear and submit themselves to routine medical checks.
“Women and everyone else should check themselves at least once a year. Early detection makes treatment easier and more effective,” she said.
She disclosed plans to institutionalise regular cancer screening for NDCOWA members and sister services to reduce cases of late presentation.
The lecture highlighted both global and national cancer burdens, identifying breast, prostate, cervical and colorectal cancers as among the most prevalent in Nigeria.
Speakers emphasised that screening, vaccination, lifestyle modification and early medical intervention could significantly reduce cancer-related mortality.
