Cancer is so stubborn, it can recur

Many of us are fond of abandoning our drugs as soon as we believe we feel better after an illness. Even doctors admit that they hardly complete their medication when they are sick.

As common as this habit is, one must know that it is deadly and almost fatal for anyone with a terminal ailment to stop their treatment simply because they feel fine and better.

Consultant oncologist, Dr. Subomi Aderinto, warns that when it comes to cancer, patients will be playing with fire by abandoning their treatment especially after they have been given a clean bill of health.

Aderinto says that many forms of cancer have been known to recur in people who were said to have survived the ailment because they did not continue with follow-ups and post-recovery treatments.

The oncologist explains that cancerous cells that were not picked initially during the first line of treatment may divide and re-multiply to form new clusters of mutant cells.

“Cancer is not predictable. No doctor can guarantee that you will be cancer-free. A recurrent cancer starts with cancer cells that the first treatment did not fully remove or destroy. This does not mean that you got the wrong treatment. It does not mean that you did anything wrong after treatment, either. It means that a small number of cancer cells survived the treatment you had.

“There were probably too few to be detected on tests or scans. But over time, these cells grew into tumours or cancer of the same cells as the first one.” he says.

He adds that even after a patient has been said to have survived cancer, some environmental or genetic changes can trigger some tiny cancer cells to begin to multiply many years after.

Aderinto stresses, “Not all of the factors that help cancer cells to grow have been found yet. We are still learning about it each day. Suddenly, something can change the immune system and wake up the cell. When it becomes active, it can grow and divide to make other cells. Finally, it becomes big enough for your doctor to detect it as a recurrence.

“It is important that you keep your doctor’s appointments and treatments even 10 years after you have been told that the cancer has gone into remission. That is the only way your physician can quickly detect any anomaly and nip it in the bud.

“I have had patients who gave testimony in church, threw their drugs away and stopped coming to the hospital. three years later, they came down with cancer again.”

Cancer may not be as popular in awareness campaigns as HIV/AIDS, but its victims are increasing daily in the country. Did you know that at least 26 women die of cervical cancer each day in Nigeria? Not many people are aware that breast cancer kills at least 50 women daily in the country.

Recent statistics corroborated by a professor of Radiotherapy and Oncology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Aderemi Ajekigbe, says that Nigeria records 100,000 new cases of cancer every year.

Nigeria at present has about two million recorded cases of cancer. Globally, experts say, there are about 8.2 million cancer-related deaths yearly. Quite scary you may say.

According to the professor, the incidence of cancer is increasing at an alarming rate in developing countries like Nigeria due to many factors, ranging from poor state of health facilities, poor funding, among others.

While we may have no control over these circumstances, many of us can ensure that cancer is not detected late.

Late diagnosis

Experts say that 70 per cent of cases of cancer and other terminal diseases plaguing humanity do not show symptoms. Ajekigbe, who notes that cancer symptoms do not manifest early, regrets that most patients seek medical attention when there is little or no hope for a cure.

He also blames late diagnosis and cancer deaths on ignorance and poor attitude of most Nigerians towards their health.

For instance, the oncologist also regrets that breast cancer, which can be cured when detected early, still kills over 10,000 women in Nigeria yearly.

While many have died from cancer, some others have survived. The key to survival, physicians maintain, is early detection.

On how to detect cancer early, Ajekigbe says anyone above the age of 40 should go for medical screening, at least, once every year.

He states, “More than 40 per cent of cancer occurs in women above 40. Breast and cervical cancer are the commonest forms of cancer and they occur in women. That is why every woman should examine her breast regularly. Cancer can happen to anyone but it does not have to be a death sentence if it is detected early.

“Medical screening and check-up is very important, as you grow older. For men, after 40, get screened for prostate cancer. A woman should go for cervical cancer and breast cancer screening every year or as recommended by her personal physician.”

He adds, “Cancer kills and it is expensive to treat. Detecting it early is cheap and it saves lives.”

Still on breast cancer, the professor stresses that women should also be familiar with their breasts so they can spot changes in them.

Ajekigbe says, “You must know your breasts. Check them regularly for unusual changes. It is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to know if there is a problem. If you notice any lump, discharge, or feel pain in your breast after a personal breast examination, go for screening. Most of the women we have diagnosed with cancer came because they ‘felt’ something in their breast.”

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