A pink-themed wellness morning in Lagos has put a hard question back on the table: how many Nigerian women actually get checked? The event closed Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the national picture on breast cancer screening Nigeria remains poor, with only six per cent of women ever screened.
Attendees were asked to come dressed in pink, and the day began with a gentle Pilates class for newcomers, taught by instructor Dammy Olufowobi.
What happened at the Lagos event
The main event was Breast Talk, a session on breast cancer screening Nigeria women can use. It was given by oncologist Dr Omolola Salako, who goes by the name The People's Oncologist. Organisers say it was set up as a close, informal conversation about spotting the disease early, checking one's own breasts and what women can do to stay ahead of illness.
According to Okuguni, Convener of The Active Circle, the gathering was organised to give women useful health information, including on breast cancer screening Nigeria needs more of, and a community that backs them. Her aim, she said, was for them to make their own wellbeing a daily priority. Attendees were also able to share personal stories and meet one another.
BellaNaija supported the event. The mix of exercise, fashion and a medical talk is a familiar way of drawing women into a subject many find uncomfortable. Breast cancer screening Nigeria campaigns often rely on it.
Who is Dr Salako
According to The Guardian Nigeria, Dr Salako practises in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). She specialises in breast cancer, among other cancers, and her work is closely tied to breast cancer screening Nigeria.
She also founded Sebeccly Cancer Care in 2006 in memory of her sister, who died of cancer. That history explains why her talks tend to focus on practical action rather than theory.
Why breast cancer screening in Nigeria matters
The numbers explain the urgency. The Federal Ministry of Health's State of Health of the Nation Report 2025, as reported by Premium Times on allAfrica, found that only six per cent of Nigerian women have ever been screened for breast cancer. The report blamed poor awareness, limited access to screening services and money problems.
Late diagnosis follows. The African Research Group for Oncology says 80 per cent of breast cancer cases in Nigeria are found at an advanced stage, with less than 25 per cent overall survival.
Cost adds to the pressure. Dr Salako has said, in an earlier BellaNaija interview, that treatment for breast cancer costs from ₦3 million to as much as ₦20 million. Catching the disease early is therefore a health matter and a financial one.
"For breast cancer, you’ll need at least 3 million Naira and it can go as high as 20 million Naira, Omolola said."
Early detection and self-examination
At a Pink Africa Foundation event in Calabar in October, experts quoted by P.M. News estimated that one in 11 Nigerian women is at risk of developing breast cancer. They said between 70 and 80 per cent of patients present at advanced stages.
The experts urged women to examine their breasts regularly and listed the signs to watch for:
- Breast lumps.
- Skin changes resembling orange peel.
- Dimpling of the skin.
- Unusual nipple discharge, including clear, coloured or bloody fluid outside breastfeeding.
Any of these should prompt a visit to a health worker. A change does not always mean cancer, but only an examination can say.
Where to get free screening
Free screening exists, though it is not widespread. The Medical Women's Association of Nigeria, Cross River Chapter, offers free breast and cervical cancer screening on the second Wednesday of every month. It takes place at its facility on Barracks Road, Calabar.
Women elsewhere can ask their nearest teaching hospital or a trusted clinic about screening days. Awareness events such as the Lagos gathering often point guests towards such services, so it is worth asking organisers directly.
What happens next
Funding remains the sticking point for many families. A director of a cancer centre in Calabar said his hospital was discussing with the National Health Insurance Authority the inclusion of cancer care in health insurance coverage. No outcome has been announced.
Until cover improves, the cheapest protection is still attention. Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel, checking them regularly, and acting quickly on a change are steps any woman can take this week, whatever her budget.
Awareness month has ended, but the gap it highlights has not.
