A health expert has advised women to encourage their husbands to fondle their breasts in the interest of their health.
According to the founder of Run for a Cure Africa, RFCA, Dr. (Mrs) Ebele Mbanugo, this in view of the need for early detection as female breast cancer is recognised as one of the major contributors to women’s high mortality rate.
She stated that a man fondling with his wife’s breasts is not only good for fun and intimacy but it also provides stimulation in that area.
In addition, a husband being familiar with his wife’s breasts can help to easily detect when an abnormality presents itself. This way, early diagnosis and treatment can commence especially considering the dearth of detection equipments and experts in that category of health care.
Speaking further, Mbanugo said that Nigeria needs at least 150 radiotherapy machines in order to make headway in the fight against breast cancer.
She gave the advise at a recent free breast cancer screening organised by her NGO, in partnership with Shoprite, in commemoration of the 2020 World Cancer Day. The event was tagged, ‘The Big Pink-Fight’ and held The Big Pink-Fight, held in Anambra, Abuja, Delta and Lagos respectively
At the event, over 400 women were screened in Lagos. She lamented that it was alarming that Nigeria has challenges with the provision of cancer treatment for the average woman.
She stated that “For us to be able to fight cancer in this country, we will need at least 150 radiotherapy machines, as functional radiotherapy machines in this country are three to seven on the average.
“My mother had cancer, and the hospital abroad where she was given treatment has eight machines. It is alarming that Nigeria with her huge population doesn’t have what that one hospital has. And the average Nigerian woman does not easily access the available machines.”
While explaining the medical reason behind women encouraging their men to fondle their breasts, the health expert said that, “the value of early detection is immeasurable especially in a resource constraint country like Nigeria. We do not have access to all the top of the line drugs and machinery used in treating advanced breast cancer.
“The only way to fight the cancer in this country is through early detection. Routine and annual screening is very important but a lot of women wait until they feel something before they come to see the doctor. Most likely, at that point, cancer has gone to its advanced stage,” she added.
This year’s Big Pink Fight offered women across various states the opportunity to undergo clinical breast exams, ultrasound scans and mammograms.
Four of the six screening stations were located at Shoprite supermarkets including Shoprite Asaba Mall (Delta State), Shoprite Onitsha Mall (Anambra State), Shoprite Novare Gateway Mall (Abuja) and Shoprite Ado Bayero Mall (Kano State).
According to Shoprite Nigeria’s Kunle Abiola “As a result of Shoprite’s partnership with RFCA, which dates back to 2014, more than 8,000 women have now undergone screenings.”
“We’re thrilled about the great turnout this year and plan to roll this initiative out to more communities where we trade.”