The Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), 1 Division Chapter, has urged women to perform regular breast self-examinations and seek medical attention early to improve their chances of surviving breast cancer.
The association’s chairperson, Dr Halima Tafida-Wase, made the call on Saturday in Kaduna at a breast cancer and mental health awareness programme organised by the association.
The programme, themed “Her Voice, Her Journey: Embracing Mental and Physical Healing,” aimed to raise awareness about breast cancer, promote mental health and encourage survivors to share their experiences.
Tafida-Wase said the programme was organised to mark October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, popularly known as Pink October, and World Mental Health Day.
She said the initiative was designed to educate women about breast cancer warning signs, encourage early diagnosis and treatment, and address the psychological challenges associated with the disease.
The chairperson urged women suffering in silence to come forward, assuring them that they were not alone and that the association was ready to help them access medical care.
“My message to women in Kaduna and the 1 Division community is that any woman suffering in silence should know that she is not alone. She should come out because cancer is real,” she said.
She advised women experiencing suspicious symptoms to visit appropriate health facilities and said the association would assist them in accessing medical attention.
Tafida-Wase also stressed the importance of regular breast self-examination, describing it as a simple, affordable practice that could help women become familiar with their breasts and identify unusual changes requiring medical assessment.
She noted that military wives carried significant responsibilities managing their homes while their husbands were deployed on operations, making their physical and mental well-being essential to family stability.
Breast cancer affected more than women’s physical health, she said, as it could also undermine their identity, confidence, emotional stability and mental well-being.
She called for a supportive community where women could openly discuss their experiences and receive emotional and psychological support throughout treatment and recovery.
Maj. James Abel, who delivered a lecture on breast cancer, mental health and physical healing, also highlighted the link between psychological well-being and physical health, particularly in military families.
Abel identified depression, prolonged stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as mental health challenges that could affect military personnel and their families. He said spouses could also experience secondary trauma arising from their husbands’ operational experiences.
The medical doctor explained that prolonged stress could contribute to physical symptoms such as migraines, muscle tension, disturbed sleep, digestive problems, fatigue and increased blood pressure.
Abel urged women to recognise signs of emotional exhaustion, seek professional help when necessary, and make time for rest and self-care, particularly given their many responsibilities at home.
Breast cancer survivor Adejoke Adeyenka encouraged women to overcome fear and denial, stressing that cancer was not a death sentence if detected early and treated promptly.
Adeyenka said awareness programmes were essential for reaching women who might be unaware of the disease or afraid to seek medical attention. Survivors’ experiences could inspire others to seek help rather than suffer in silence, she added.
She urged women to take advantage of such initiatives, saying that sharing survivors’ stories could offer hope, encourage early diagnosis and help others navigate the challenges of breast cancer.
