4th February, 2016
Eromosele Ebhomele
The Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health Services, Segun Olulade, has urged Nigerians to desist from every act that could lead to cancer.
Olulade, who joined millions of people in the world to speak on the deadly disease, noted that in many cases, what is known about cancer prevention is still evolving.
The lawmaker, who is representing Epe Constituency 2 explained that it is well-accepted that one’s chances of developing cancer are affected by the lifestyle choices one makes.
“If we are concerned about cancer prevention, we must take comfort in the fact that some simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Consider these seven cancer prevention tips.
“Research has shown that maintaining a healthy weight might lower the risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney.
“Smoking has been linked to various types of cancer, including cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix and kidney.
“Using any type of tobacco puts you on a collision course with cancer.
“Even if you don’t smoke, exposure to second hand smoke might increase your risk of lung cancer. So avoiding tobacco or deciding to stop using it is one of the most important health decisions you can make.
“We should also eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. We should base our diet on fruits, vegetables and other foods from plant sources such as whole grains and beans. And if you must drink alcohol, do so only in moderation.
“Getting regular medical care is also key to cancer prevention. Regular self exams and screenings for various types of cancers, such as cancer of the skin, colon, cervix and breast can increase one’s chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful.
“So it is very important to ask your doctor about the best cancer screening schedule for you. We should take cancer prevention into our own hands, starting today and I am very sure the rewards will last a lifetime,” the lawmaker said.
Olulade pointed out that regular check-ups and visits to the doctor could help in early detection of the disease.
He also said if detected early, the treatment could be easy.