Oncologist warns, use of contraceptive pills causes breast cancer

BrandPower Magazine 30/10/2023Last Updated: 30/10/2023

2 minutes read

Oncologist, Breast Cancer, Contraceptive Pills

Dr Temitope Olatunji-Agunbiade, a Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, has cautioned women against using contraceptive pills to reduce the prevalent cases of breast cancer.

Olatunji-Agunbiade gave the warning during the breast cancer awareness programme on Monday in Ota, Ogun.

She said that breast cancer could be found in both youths and old people, and leading cause of cancer deaths in women as well as accounted for 26.7 per cent of all prevailing malignancies in women.

BRANDPOWER reports that the awareness was organised by Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication, Africa Centre of Excellence (CApiC-ACE), Covenant University, in collaboration with Beulah World Initiative (BWI).

The oncologist explained that recent research had been carried out and revealed that using contraceptivespills to prevent pregnancy is one of the major causes of breast cancer in the country.

Dr Temitope Olatunji-Agunbiade, a Guest Speaker at a Breast Cancer Awareness 2023, organized by Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication, Africa Centre of Excellence (CApiC-ACE) Covenant University

“All contraceptives sometimes lead to cancer and they are not safe for human consumption, ” she said.

Olatunji-Agunbiade, however, said that breast cancer was potentially curable, if detected early, to prevent the development of the life-threatening disease.

“Breast cancers that are detected when smaller or not palpable are more treatable and thus are associated with a more favorable prognosis, ” she said.

The oncologist identified some of the clinical features of cancer breast to include painless swelling in the breast, skin changes, asymptomatic and axillary swelling and lymphedema of the arm.

She advised women on healthy lifestyle, modification of reproductive behaviour, physical examination by health care professionals, breast self examination and mamnography to minimise the trend of breast cancer cases in the country.

The oncologist listed some of the measures used for treating breast cancer to include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapy.

Ms Chichi Ononiwu, Founder and Coordinator, BWI, stated that each year, individuals, businesses and communities come together to show their support to people affected by breast cancer.

Ononiwu said that it was based on this that BWI partnered with CApiC- ACE, to create the forum for propagating breast cancer awareness to educate women and stem the tide.

She reiterated the mission of BWI, to advance the quality of life of rural and sub-urban communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the improvement of health, leadership development and education support.

Ononiwu appealed to women to go for check up once they observed or suspected anything abnormal on their body system.

Prof. Emeka Iweala, Director, CApiC-ACE, Covenant University, said the centre was established to carry out research on breast cancer.

Iweala, also a Professor of Biochemistry at the institution, said that the purpose of studying breast cancer was to develop safe and effective methods to prevent, detect, diagnose, treat and ultimately cure the disease.

According to him, the Federal Government is making efforts to fight cancer as the country is wining the battle against this disease.

“The Federal Government is supporting research in various ways; the centre is supported and funded by a loan from the World Bank which is a loan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”