Men also affected by breast cancer — LEAH Foundation convener

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin –

The Founder of the LEAH Foundation, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, has disclosed that men are now presenting themselves for breast cancer screening, noting that the scourge no longer affects only women.

She said although the percentage of affected men remains small, their growing participation is commendable, urging them to continue lending their voices to campaigns for early detection of the ailment.

Mrs. Ahmed made the disclosure at the 8th edition of Walk for Hope, an awareness event held in Ilorin on Saturday to commemorate the global Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Breast cancer is not an ailment that affects women alone. A few men are now coming out for screening. I want to commend the level of cooperation from the male folk,” she said.

She lamented that some women still report late for checks due to stigmatization and urged the public to stop stigmatizing anyone diagnosed with cancer. She added that fighting the disease requires collective efforts from religious bodies, philanthropists, and NGOs.

Mrs. Ahmed emphasized that early presentation for screening is a major factor in combating the ailment, noting that, in commemoration of the awareness month, screening at the LEAH clinics is free of charge. She stressed that early detection saves lives.

Speaking separately, popular actors Abiola Adebayo and Tope Adebayo said they joined the walk to help raise awareness, emphasizing that it is important for people to know their health status, as the disease is preventable but costly when detected late.